diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 1e070d8a5..73e948219 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -245,6 +245,17 @@ else
   AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
 fi
 
+dnl location to install runtime libraries, e.g. ../../lib to install
+dnl to /lib if libdir is /usr/lib
+AC_ARG_WITH(runtime-libdir,
+           [AC_HELP_STRING([--with-runtime-libdir=RELPATH],
+                           [Install runtime libraries relative to libdir])],
+           [],
+	   [with_runtime_libdir=""])
+GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR=$with_runtime_libdir
+AC_SUBST(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR, [test "x$with_runtime_libdir" != "x"])
+
 dnl Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CPP
diff --git a/docs/reference/glib/building.sgml b/docs/reference/glib/building.sgml
index 0274f3d18..72c82b344 100644
--- a/docs/reference/glib/building.sgml
+++ b/docs/reference/glib/building.sgml
@@ -234,6 +234,9 @@ How to compile GLib itself
             <arg>--disable-selinux</arg>
             <arg>--enable-selinux</arg>
           </group>
+          <group>
+            <arg>--with-runtime-libdir=RELPATH</arg>
+          </group>
         </cmdsynopsis>
       </para>
 
@@ -555,6 +558,24 @@ How to compile GLib itself
 	  be included.
         </para>
      </formalpara>
+
+      <formalpara>
+        <title><systemitem>--with-runtime-libdir=RELPATH</systemitem></title>
+
+        <para>
+          Allows specifying a relative path to where to install the runtime
+          libraries (meaning library files used for running, not developing,
+          GLib applications). This can be used in operating system setups where
+          programs using GLib needs to run before e.g. <filename>/usr</filename>
+          is mounted.
+          For example, if LIBDIR is <filename>/usr/lib</filename> and
+          <filename>../../lib</filename> is passed to
+          <systemitem>--with-runtime-libdir</systemitem> then the
+          runtime libraries are installed into <filename>/lib</filename> rather
+          than <filename>/usr/lib</filename>.
+        </para>
+      </formalpara>
+
    </refsect1>
 
 </refentry>
diff --git a/docs/reference/glib/tmpl/fileutils.sgml b/docs/reference/glib/tmpl/fileutils.sgml
index 0b9ef6c74..eeef84c48 100644
--- a/docs/reference/glib/tmpl/fileutils.sgml
+++ b/docs/reference/glib/tmpl/fileutils.sgml
@@ -294,6 +294,23 @@ not be accessed directly.
 @Returns: 
 
 
+<!-- ##### FUNCTION g_mapped_file_ref ##### -->
+<para>
+
+</para>
+
+@file: 
+@Returns: 
+
+
+<!-- ##### FUNCTION g_mapped_file_unref ##### -->
+<para>
+
+</para>
+
+@file: 
+
+
 <!-- ##### FUNCTION g_mapped_file_free ##### -->
 <para>
 
diff --git a/gio/Makefile.am b/gio/Makefile.am
index 3f8f18055..1376443bf 100644
--- a/gio/Makefile.am
+++ b/gio/Makefile.am
@@ -424,3 +424,12 @@ gioenumtypes.c: $(gio_headers) gioenumtypes.c.template
 
 gio-2.0.lib: libgio-2.0.la gio.def
 	lib -machine:@LIB_EXE_MACHINE_FLAG@ -name:libgio-2.0-$(LT_CURRENT_MINUS_AGE).dll -def:gio.def -out:$@
+
+if HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR
+install-data-hook:
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgio-2.0.so.0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgio-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgio-2.0.so
+	ln -s $(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)/libgio-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgio-2.0.so
+endif
diff --git a/glib/Makefile.am b/glib/Makefile.am
index eb220e66e..af0771654 100644
--- a/glib/Makefile.am
+++ b/glib/Makefile.am
@@ -364,3 +364,12 @@ dist-hook: $(BUILT_EXTRA_DIST)
 	for f in $$files; do \
 	  if test -f $$f; then d=.; else d=$(srcdir); fi; \
 	  cp $$d/$$f $(distdir) || exit 1; done
+
+if HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR
+install-data-hook:
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libglib-2.0.so.0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libglib-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libglib-2.0.so
+	ln -s $(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)/libglib-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libglib-2.0.so
+endif
diff --git a/gmodule/Makefile.am b/gmodule/Makefile.am
index 80a5605b6..f0e63d1ab 100644
--- a/gmodule/Makefile.am
+++ b/gmodule/Makefile.am
@@ -116,3 +116,12 @@ dist-hook: $(BUILT_EXTRA_DIST)
 install-data-local: install-ms-lib install-def-file
 
 uninstall-local: uninstall-ms-lib uninstall-def-file
+
+if HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR
+install-data-hook:
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgmodule-2.0.so.0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgmodule-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgmodule-2.0.so
+	ln -s $(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)/libgmodule-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgmodule-2.0.so
+endif
diff --git a/gobject/Makefile.am b/gobject/Makefile.am
index f8a7de4c1..ec27aa12d 100644
--- a/gobject/Makefile.am
+++ b/gobject/Makefile.am
@@ -260,3 +260,12 @@ distclean-local:
 	if test $(srcdir) = .; then :; else \
 	    rm -f $(BUILT_EXTRA_DIST); \
 	fi
+
+if HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR
+install-data-hook:
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgobject-2.0.so.0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgobject-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgobject-2.0.so
+	ln -s $(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)/libgobject-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgobject-2.0.so
+endif
diff --git a/gthread/Makefile.am b/gthread/Makefile.am
index a7b53cf58..a65c15f29 100644
--- a/gthread/Makefile.am
+++ b/gthread/Makefile.am
@@ -92,3 +92,11 @@ install-data-local: install-ms-lib install-def-file
 
 uninstall-local: uninstall-ms-lib uninstall-def-file
 
+if HAVE_GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR
+install-data-hook:
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgthread-2.0.so.0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	mv $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgthread-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/$(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgthread-2.0.so
+	ln -s $(GLIB_RUNTIME_LIBDIR)/libgthread-2.0.so.0.$(LT_CURRENT).0 $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/libgthread-2.0.so
+endif