diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/configuremake.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/configuremake.py
index 23db7c0c750..cc51349d695 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/configuremake.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/configuremake.py
@@ -34,9 +34,12 @@
 @author: Toon Willems (Ghent University)
 """
 
+import stat
+import os
 from easybuild.framework.easyblock import EasyBlock
 from easybuild.framework.easyconfig import CUSTOM
 from easybuild.tools.run import run_cmd
+from easybuild.tools.filetools import adjust_permissions
 
 
 class ConfigureMake(EasyBlock):
@@ -79,6 +82,9 @@ def configure_step(self, cmd_prefix=''):
             for (key, val) in tar_vars.items():
                 self.cfg.update('preconfigopts', "%s='%s'" % (key, val))
 
+         # Ensure that configure has the excutable bit set, needed if a patch created configure itself
+         if os.path.exists('configure'):
+             adjust_permissions('configure', stat.S_IXUSR, add=True)
         cmd = "%(preconfigopts)s %(cmd_prefix)s./configure %(prefix_opt)s%(installdir)s %(configopts)s" % {
             'preconfigopts': self.cfg['preconfigopts'],
             'cmd_prefix': cmd_prefix,