diff --git a/build-devkit.sh b/build-devkit.sh
index 0c332e9..5f57f5c 100755
--- a/build-devkit.sh
+++ b/build-devkit.sh
@@ -224,7 +224,14 @@ mkdir -p $BUILDDIR
 cd $BUILDDIR
 
 extract_and_patch binutils $BINUTILS_VER xz
+
 extract_and_patch gcc $GCC_VER xz
+if [ "$GCC_DOWNLOAD_PREREQS" != "0" ] && [ ! -f downloaded_prereqs ]; then
+  cd gcc-${GCC_VER}
+  ./contrib/download_prerequisites && touch downloaded_prereqs
+  cd ..
+fi
+
 extract_and_patch newlib $NEWLIB_VER gz
 
 if [ $VERSION -eq 2 ]; then extract_and_patch binutils $MN_BINUTILS_VER bz2; fi
diff --git a/config.sh.sample b/config.sh.sample
index 671f8e6..5ef6168 100755
--- a/config.sh.sample
+++ b/config.sh.sample
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ BUILD_DKPRO_PACKAGE=0
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #BUILD_DKPRO_SKIP_CRTLS=1
 
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Automated script execution
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #  0: Ask to delete build folders & patched sources
@@ -36,6 +37,14 @@ BUILD_DKPRO_PACKAGE=0
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 BUILD_DKPRO_AUTOMATED=0
 
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Download prerequisites before building gcc
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#  0: use pre-compiled prereqs
+#  1: run included download script
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+GCC_DOWNLOAD_PREREQS=0
+
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # set OSX SDK path if needed
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------