diff --git a/eclass/distutils-r1.eclass b/eclass/distutils-r1.eclass
index c7a17dd39863..5980cc47e5f7 100644
--- a/eclass/distutils-r1.eclass
+++ b/eclass/distutils-r1.eclass
@@ -415,6 +415,28 @@ unset -f _distutils_set_globals
 # }
 # @CODE
 
+# @ECLASS_VARIABLE: DISTUTILS_CONFIG_SETTINGS_JSON
+# @DEFAULT_UNSET
+# @DESCRIPTION:
+# The JSON object deserialized into config_settings dictionary passed
+# to the build backend.
+#
+# Allowed only for DISTUTILS_USE_PEP517=standalone.  Use DISTUTILS_ARGS
+# for other backends.
+#
+# Example:
+# @CODE
+# python_configure_all() {
+# 	DISTUTILS_CONFIG_SETTINGS_JSON='
+# 		{
+# 			"verbose": true,
+# 			"targets": ["foo", "bar"],
+# 			"build-type": "release"
+# 		}
+# 	'
+# }
+# @CODE
+
 # @FUNCTION: distutils_enable_sphinx
 # @USAGE: <subdir> [--no-autodoc | <plugin-pkgs>...]
 # @DESCRIPTION:
@@ -1197,6 +1219,12 @@ distutils_pep517_install() {
 			;;
 	esac
 
+	if [[ ${DISTUTILS_USE_PEP517} == standalone ]]; then
+		config_settings=${DISTUTILS_CONFIG_SETTINGS_JSON}
+	elif [[ -n ${DISTUTILS_CONFIG_SETTINGS_JSON} ]]; then
+		die "DISTUTILS_CONFIG_SETTINGS_JSON supported only for standalone backends"
+	fi
+
 	# https://pyo3.rs/latest/building-and-distribution.html#cross-compiling
 	if tc-is-cross-compiler; then
 		local -x PYO3_CROSS_LIB_DIR=${SYSROOT}/$(python_get_stdlib)