diff --git a/buildozer/default.spec b/buildozer/default.spec
index 42f76b3..af60c30 100644
--- a/buildozer/default.spec
+++ b/buildozer/default.spec
@@ -101,6 +101,9 @@ fullscreen = 1
 # (str) python-for-android git clone directory (if empty, it will be automatically cloned from github)
 #android.p4a_dir =
 
+# (str) The directory in which python-for-android should look for your own build recipes (if any)
+#p4a.local_recipes = 
+
 # (list) python-for-android whitelist
 #android.p4a_whitelist =
 
diff --git a/buildozer/targets/android_new.py b/buildozer/targets/android_new.py
index 77b8226..2a70463 100644
--- a/buildozer/targets/android_new.py
+++ b/buildozer/targets/android_new.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class TargetAndroidNew(TargetAndroid):
         return join(self._build_dir, 'dists', dist_name)
 
     def get_local_recipes_dir(self):
-        local_recipes = self.buildozer.config.get('app', 'p4a.local_recipes')
+        local_recipes = self.buildozer.config.getdefault('app', 'p4a.local_recipes')
         return realpath(expanduser(local_recipes)) if local_recipes else None
 
     def execute_build_package(self, build_cmd):