diff --git a/bin/compile b/bin/compile
index 663a645..8ad2be5 100755
--- a/bin/compile
+++ b/bin/compile
@@ -12,7 +12,17 @@ function indent() {
 
 unset GIT_DIR
 
-for BUILDPACK in $(cat $1/.buildpacks); do
+DEFAULT_BUILDPACKS_FILE=".buildpacks"
+
+if [ -f "$3/BUILDPACKS_FILE" ]; then
+  BUILDPACKS_FILE=$(cat "$3/BUILDPACKS_FILE")
+else
+  BUILDPACKS_FILE=$DEFAULT_BUILDPACKS_FILE
+fi
+
+echo "=====> Using buildpacks file: $BUILDPACKS_FILE"
+
+for BUILDPACK in $(cat $1/$BUILDPACKS_FILE); do
   dir=$(mktemp -t buildpackXXXXX)
   rm -rf $dir