diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
@@ -215,7 +215,12 @@
 fi
 
 if [ "$PKGBASE" == yes ]; then
-	if [ "$HAVE_BASE_PACKAGES" == yes ]; then
+	if [ -n "$BSDINSTALL_PKG_REPOS_DIR" ]; then
+		bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" --title "Custom Installation" \
+		    --msgbox "\$BSDINSTALL_PKG_REPOS_DIR=$BSDINSTALL_PKG_REPOS_DIR is set in the environment, using configuration from that directory. The next few screens will allow you to configure networking." 0 0
+		bsdinstall netconfig || error
+		NETCONFIG_DONE=yes
+	elif [ "$HAVE_BASE_PACKAGES" == yes ]; then
 		bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" --title "Network or Offline Installation" \
 		    --yes-label "Network" --no-label "Offline (Limited Packages)" --yesno \
 		    "Would you like to fetch packages from the internet or use the limited set of packages included in this installation media?" 0 0