diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 94d92b8f55bbf..68922a84930f6 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ allprojects {
     }
 
     repositories {
-        jcenter()
+        maven {
+            url gradle.mozconfig.substs.GRADLE_MAVEN_REPOSITORY
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -17,8 +19,9 @@ buildDir "${topobjdir}/gradle/build"
 
 buildscript {
     repositories {
-        jcenter()
-
+        maven {
+            url gradle.mozconfig.substs.GRADLE_MAVEN_REPOSITORY
+        }
     }
 
     dependencies {
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 1b6b5fb6e138e..00c1b910885f9 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -5374,12 +5374,56 @@ if test -n "$MOZ_OMX_PLUGIN"; then
 fi
 
 dnl ========================================================
-dnl = Enable building mobile/android with Gradle
-dnl ========================================================
-MOZ_ARG_ENABLE_BOOL(gradle-mobile-android-builds,
-[  --enable-gradle-mobile-android-builds      Enable building mobile/android with Gradle],
-    MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=1,
-    MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=)
+dnl Gradle support
+dnl
+dnl If --with-gradle is specified, build mobile/android with Gradle.
+dnl
+dnl If no Gradle binary is specified, use the in tree Gradle wrapper.
+dnl The wrapper downloads and installs Gradle, which is good for local
+dnl developers but not good in automation.
+dnl ========================================================
+
+GRADLE=
+MOZ_ARG_WITH_STRING(gradle,
+[  --with-gradle=/path/to/bin/gradle
+                          Enable building mobile/android with Gradle (argument: location of binary or wrapper (gradle/gradlew))],
+    if test "$withval" = "no" ; then
+        dnl --without-gradle => use the wrapper in |mach gradle|, don't build
+        dnl with Gradle by default.
+        GRADLE=$srcdir/gradlew
+        MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=
+    elif test "$withval" = "yes" ; then
+        dnl --with-gradle => use the wrapper in |mach gradle|, build with
+        dnl Gradle by default.
+        GRADLE=$srcdir/gradlew
+        MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=1
+    else
+        dnl --with-gradle=/path/to/gradle => use the given binary in |mach
+        dnl gradle|, build with Gradle by default.
+        GRADLE=$withval
+        MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=1
+    fi
+    ,
+    dnl No --with{out}-gradle => use the wrapper in |mach gradle|, don't build
+    dnl with Gradle by default.
+    GRADLE=$srcdir/gradlew
+    MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE=
+    )
+
+if test "$OS_TARGET" = Android -a x"$MOZ_WIDGET_TOOLKIT" != x"gonk" ; then
+    if test -z "$GRADLE" -o ! -x "$GRADLE" ; then
+        AC_MSG_ERROR([The program gradlew/gradle was not found.  Use --with-gradle=/path/to/bin/gradle}])
+    fi
+fi
+AC_SUBST(GRADLE)
+
+dnl Path to Maven repository containing Gradle dependencies.  Automation will
+dnl set this to file:///path/to/local via the mozconfig.  Local developer
+dnl default is jcenter.
+if test -z "$GRADLE_MAVEN_REPOSITORY" ; then
+    GRADLE_MAVEN_REPOSITORY=https://jcenter.bintray.com/
+fi
+AC_SUBST(GRADLE_MAVEN_REPOSITORY)
 
 if test -n "$MOZ_BUILD_MOBILE_ANDROID_WITH_GRADLE"; then
     if test "$OS_TARGET" = "Android" -a x"$MOZ_WIDGET_TOOLKIT" != x"gonk"; then
diff --git a/mobile/android/mach_commands.py b/mobile/android/mach_commands.py
index 11cafbdcbbbb4..108a03cb72714 100644
--- a/mobile/android/mach_commands.py
+++ b/mobile/android/mach_commands.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def gradle(self, args):
         # Avoid logging the command
         self.log_manager.terminal_handler.setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
 
-        return self.run_process(['./gradlew'] + args,
+        return self.run_process([self.substs['GRADLE']] + args,
             pass_thru=True, # Allow user to run gradle interactively.
             ensure_exit_code=False, # Don't throw on non-zero exit code.
             cwd=mozpath.join(self.topsrcdir))