diff --git a/ports/esp32/Makefile b/ports/esp32/Makefile
index 48d4b9d5cd..3f0e47c178 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/Makefile
+++ b/ports/esp32/Makefile
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ CROSS_COMPILE ?= xtensa-esp32-elf-
 
 # paths to ESP IDF and its components
 ifeq ($(ESPIDF),)
+ifneq ($(IDF_PATH),)
+ESPIDF = $(IDF_PATH)
+else
 $(error Please configure the ESPIDF variable)
 endif
+endif
 ESPCOMP = $(ESPIDF)/components
 ESPTOOL ?= $(ESPCOMP)/esptool_py/esptool/esptool.py