diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 2298e5b0..5424c1bb 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ byobu (4.53) unreleased; urgency=low
       correct prefix
   * usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs: LP: #780081
     - use ~/.local/share/byobu as BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR, if it happens to exist
+  * usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs: LP: #899271
+    - allow explicit BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR selection in ~/.byoburc
 
   [ Andrew McCarthy ]
   * usr/bin/byobu-status: LP: #898801
diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs b/usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs
index cdaa70a3..8ca20cd5 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/include/dirs
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ PKG="byobu"
 [ -n "$BYOBU_PREFIX" ] || BYOBU_PREFIX="/usr"
 
 # Create and export the user configuration directory
-if [ -d "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME" ]; then
+if [ -d "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR" ]; then
+	export BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR="$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR"
+elif [ -d "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME" ]; then
 	# Use XDG, as some users insist on such nonsense :-)
 	export BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/$PKG"
 elif [ -d "$HOME/.local/share/$PKG" ]; then