diff --git a/BUILD b/BUILD
index df78793ae..7240cf803 100644
--- a/BUILD
+++ b/BUILD
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ Example: scons ldflags="-L/foo -L/bar"
   behalf of the user will use doubles. By default, the code
   uses 128 integers.
 Example: scons high-precision-as-double=y
+- inheritenv: set to 'y' if you want to make your compiler
+  execute within the same environment (env vars) as your own
+  shell. This is typically used to make colorgcc work.
+Example: scons inheritenv=y
 
 2) Targets
 ----------
@@ -136,7 +140,7 @@ core.add_inst_headers ('foo.h')
 # create a new module. First arg is the name of
 # the new module. Second arg is the directory in
 # which all source files for this module reside.
-my_module = Ns3Module ('my', 'src/my_dir')
+my_module = build.Ns3Module ('my', 'src/my_dir')
 # add it to build system
 ns3.add (my_module)
 # specify module dependencies. Here, depends
diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index 461e5d8f9..cc509519a 100644
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -299,7 +299,11 @@ class Ns3:
                     outfile.write('#endif /*' + config_file_guard + '*/\n')
                     config.Finish()
     def generate_dependencies(self):
-        env = Environment()
+        inheritenv = (ARGUMENTS.get('inheritenv', 'n') in 'yY1')
+        if inheritenv:
+            env = Environment(ENV=os.environ)
+        else:
+            env = Environment()
         self.gen_mod_config(env)
         cc = env['CC']
         cxx = env.subst(env['CXX'])