diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d546a05b07..712d895866 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ cmake_policy(SET CMP0015 NEW)
 #Where to find local cmake scripts
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/modules)
 
+include(UseCustomIncludes)
+ADD_CUSTOM_CMAKE_INCLUDE()
+
 # This cannot be implemented via option(...)
 if( NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE )
 	set( CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE RelWithDebInfo CACHE STRING
@@ -772,7 +775,6 @@ ADD_CUSTOM_COMMAND(
 )
 
 if(ENABLE_PLUGINS)
-	include(plugins/CMakeListsCustom.txt)
 	set(HAVE_PLUGINS 1)
 	set(PLUGIN_DIR "${DATAFILE_DIR}/plugins/${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION}")
 	set(PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/@CPACK_PACKAGE_NAME@/plugins/${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION}")
diff --git a/plugins/CMakeListsCustom.txt b/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
similarity index 99%
rename from plugins/CMakeListsCustom.txt
rename to CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
index f9cd0fbf83..92d28b6c6d 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeListsCustom.txt
+++ b/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ set(CUSTOM_PLUGIN_SRC_DIR
 #	private_plugins/foo
 # or
 #   plugins/foo
-)
\ No newline at end of file
+)
diff --git a/cmake/modules/UseCustomIncludes.cmake b/cmake/modules/UseCustomIncludes.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15e93f7043
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/modules/UseCustomIncludes.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#
+# - Include a custom CMake file relative to the current source directory.
+# - If no filename is provided, CMakeListsCustom.txt is used.
+#
+macro( ADD_CUSTOM_CMAKE_INCLUDE  )
+    if( ${ARGN} )
+        set( _file_list ${ARGN} )
+    else()
+        set( _file_list CMakeListsCustom.txt )
+    endif()
+    foreach (_include ${_file_list})
+        set( _include_file ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${_include} )
+        if( EXISTS ${_include_file} )
+            message ( STATUS "Including ${_include_file}" )
+            include( ${_include_file} )
+        else()
+            message ( STATUS "No custom file found in ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}" )
+        endif()
+    endforeach()
+endmacro()
diff --git a/epan/CMakeLists.txt b/epan/CMakeLists.txt
index 657129aefa..5b7ff43c03 100644
--- a/epan/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/epan/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 include(UseABICheck)
 
-include(CMakeListsCustom.txt)
+ADD_CUSTOM_CMAKE_INCLUDE()
 
 if (HAVE_HFI_SECTION_INIT)
 	add_definitions(
diff --git a/epan/CMakeListsCustom.txt b/epan/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
similarity index 100%
rename from epan/CMakeListsCustom.txt
rename to epan/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
diff --git a/ui/gtk/CMakeLists.txt b/ui/gtk/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b5600445e..13878c7770 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ui/gtk/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 #
 
-include(CMakeListsCustom.txt)
+ADD_CUSTOM_CMAKE_INCLUDE()
 
 set(WIRESHARK_GTK_SRC
 	about_dlg.c
diff --git a/ui/gtk/CMakeListsCustom.txt b/ui/gtk/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example
similarity index 100%
rename from ui/gtk/CMakeListsCustom.txt
rename to ui/gtk/CMakeListsCustom.txt.example