diff --git a/node-gyp/lib/configure.js b/node-gyp/lib/configure.js
index 564564e..8de336c 100644
--- a/node-gyp/lib/configure.js
+++ b/node-gyp/lib/configure.js
@@ -56,6 +56,15 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
         return callback(new Error('Invalid version number: ' + release.version))
       }
 
+      if (!gyp.opts.tarball) {
+        // use system nodeDir
+        gyp.opts.ensure = true
+        nodeDir = '/usr'
+        log.verbose('get node dir', 'use system node dir: %s', nodeDir)
+        createBuildDir()
+        return
+      }
+
       // If the tarball option is set, always remove and reinstall the headers
       // into devdir. Otherwise only install if they're not already there.
       gyp.opts.ensure = !gyp.opts.tarball