diff --git a/CMAKE_INSTRUCTIONS.md b/CMAKE_INSTRUCTIONS.md
index 7f4858c30..6eb014012 100644
--- a/CMAKE_INSTRUCTIONS.md
+++ b/CMAKE_INSTRUCTIONS.md
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ The following build options are available:
 -DCONSTANTS             "Build with <X> constants parameter definitions"     DEFAULT:GFDL  OPTIONS:GFS|GEOS|GFDL
 -DINTERNAL_FILE_NML     "Enable compiler definition -DINTERNAL_FILE_NML"     DEFAULT: ON
 -DENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION "Enable compiler definition -DENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION" DEFAULT: ON
+-DPORTABLE_KINDS        "Enable compiler definition -DPORTABLE_KINDS"        DEFAULT:OFF
 -DGFS_PHYS              "Enable compiler definition -DGFS_PHYS"              DEFAULT:OFF
 -DLARGEFILE             "Enable compiler definition -Duse_LARGEFILE"         DEFAULT:OFF
 -DWITH_YAML             "Enable compiler definition -Duse_yaml"              DEFAULT:OFF
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index aa2b9c015..5082a98e0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ option(SHARED_LIBS "Build shared/dynamic libraries"       OFF)
 # Options for compiler definitions
 option(INTERNAL_FILE_NML     "Enable compiler definition -DINTERNAL_FILE_NML"      ON)
 option(ENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION "Enable compiler definition -DENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION"  ON)
+option(PORTABLE_KINDS        "Enable compiler definition -DPORTABLE_KINDS"        OFF)
 option(GFS_PHYS              "Enable compiler definition -DGFS_PHYS"              OFF)
 option(LARGEFILE             "Enable compiler definition -Duse_LARGEFILE"         OFF)
 option(WITH_YAML             "Enable compiler definition -Duse_yaml"              OFF)
@@ -267,6 +268,10 @@ if(ENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION)
   list(APPEND fms_defs ENABLE_QUAD_PRECISION)
 endif()
 
+if(PORTABLE_KINDS)
+  list(APPEND fms_defs PORTABLE_KINDS)
+endif()
+
 if(LARGEFILE)
   list(APPEND fms_defs use_LARGEFILE)
 endif()
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 057905253..190a0e51b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ AS_IF([test ${enable_r8_default:-yes} = yes],
   [enable_r8_default=yes],
   [enable_r8_default=no])
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([portable-kinds],
+  [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-portable-kinds],
+    [Enables compilation with -DPORTABLE_KINDS with iso_c_binding KIND type parameters])])
+AS_IF([test ${enable_portable_kinds:-no} = yes],
+  [enable_portable_kinds=yes],
+  [enable_portable_kinds=no])
+
 # user enabled testing with input files
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to enable tests with input files])
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([test-input],
@@ -342,6 +349,11 @@ if test $enable_setting_flags = yes; then
     AC_DEFINE([no_8byte_integers], [1], [Set to disable 8 byte integer Fortran routines])
   fi
 
+  # Builds with C data types
+  if test $enable_portable_kinds = yes; then
+    AC_DEFINE([PORTABLE_KINDS], [1], [Set to define KIND parameters to iso_c_binding KIND parameters])
+  fi
+
   # Add Cray Pointer support flag
   if test ! -z "$FC_CRAY_POINTER_FLAG"; then
     FCFLAGS="$FCFLAGS $FC_CRAY_POINTER_FLAG"