diff --git a/portable-python.yml b/portable-python.yml
index 748c541..a3e59fd 100644
--- a/portable-python.yml
+++ b/portable-python.yml
@@ -46,3 +46,11 @@ cpython-additional-packages:
 # openssl-configure:
 #  - -v
 #  - --openssldir=/etc/ssl
+
+
+# Uncomment if you need to patch the source code of a module before compiling it
+#cpython-modules: zlib
+#zlib-patches:
+#  - file: configure
+#    regex: "# start off configure.log"
+#    replacement: "echo starting zlib configure script with patches"
diff --git a/src/portable_python/__init__.py b/src/portable_python/__init__.py
index 8b9b429..0e105ec 100644
--- a/src/portable_python/__init__.py
+++ b/src/portable_python/__init__.py
@@ -502,6 +502,9 @@ def cfg_configure(self, deps_lib):
             configure_template = Template(configure)
             return configure_template.substitute(deps_lib=deps_lib)
 
+    def cfg_patches(self):
+        return PPG.config.get_value("%s-patches" % self.m_name)
+
     @property
     def url(self):
         """Url of source tarball, if any"""
@@ -650,6 +653,7 @@ def compile(self):
                         folder = folder / self.m_build_cwd
 
                     with runez.CurrentFolder(folder):
+                        self._apply_patches()
                         self._prepare()
                         func()
                         self._finalize()
@@ -663,6 +667,15 @@ def compile(self):
                     else:
                         os.environ[k] = v
 
+    def _apply_patches(self):
+        if patches := self.cfg_patches():
+            for patch in patches:
+                if runez.DRYRUN:
+                    print(f"Would apply patch: {patch}")
+                else:
+                    print(f"Applying patch: {patch}")
+                    patch_file(patch["file"], patch["regex"], patch["replacement"])
+
     def _get_env_vars(self):
         """Yield all found env vars, first found wins"""
         result = {}