diff --git a/compat/README.md b/compat/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8f77374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compat/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Operating System Compatibility Modules for WAF
+
+This directory contains waf modules that aid compatibility across
+different operating systems. Here a module is a pluggable and reusable
+piece of code for the waf build system along with necessary
+replacements.
+
+To create a new compatibility module simply create a new subdirectory
+containing a `wscript` file and any necessary replacement files. The
+`wscript` must define the `options`, `configure` and `build` functions.
+
+To use the modules you need to call `recurse` in your `options`,
+`configure` and `build` commands. For example
+```python
+def options(opt):
+    # Do stuff...
+    opt.recurse('compat')
+    # Do other stuff...
+
+def configure(conf):
+    # Do stuff...
+    conf.recurse('compat')
+    # Do other stuff...
+
+def build(bld):
+    # Do stuff...
+    bld.recurse('compat')
+    # Do other stuff...
+```
+assuming this directory is called `compat`. After doing this you need to
+take any necessary actions described in the modules you want to use.
+
+The code in this directory is inteded to be generic and reusable. When
+writing new modules, please keep this in mind. Whenever necessary it
+should be possible to make this directory a git submodule and all the
+subdirectories other submodules, to aid reuse.
+
+If you would like to use these modules in another project, please file
+an issue so that we can join forces and maintain the compatabilitiy
+modules in a separate repository.
diff --git a/compat/wscript b/compat/wscript
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3ec8d33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compat/wscript
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# encoding: utf-8
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2018 Karl Linden <karl.j.linden@gmail.com>
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+#
+
+import os
+
+def get_subdirs(ctx):
+    """
+    Get the compatibility module subirectories.
+
+    The compat modules are found dynamically so that this script does
+    not have to be modified if more modules are added.
+
+    :param ctx: the waf context
+    :type ctx: waflib.Context.Context
+    :returns: list of str -- the subdirectories
+    """
+    subdirs = []
+    for entry in ctx.path.listdir():
+        path = os.path.join(ctx.path.abspath(), entry)
+        if os.path.isdir(path) and not entry.startswith('.'):
+            subdirs.append(entry)
+    return subdirs
+
+def recurse_into_subdirs(ctx):
+    """
+    Recurse into compatibility module subdirectories.
+
+    :param ctx: the waf context
+    :type ctx: waflib.Context.Context
+    """
+    for x in get_subdirs(ctx):
+        ctx.recurse(x)
+
+def options(opt):
+    recurse_into_subdirs(opt)
+
+def configure(conf):
+    recurse_into_subdirs(conf)
+
+def build(bld):
+    recurse_into_subdirs(bld)
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 0a927e64..9df8855f 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ def options(opt):
 
     opt.load('xcode6')
 
+    opt.recurse('compat')
+
     # install directories
     opt.add_option('--htmldir', type='string', default=None, help='HTML documentation directory [Default: <prefix>/share/jack-audio-connection-kit/reference/html/')
     opt.add_option('--libdir', type='string', help='Library directory [Default: <prefix>/lib]')
@@ -217,6 +219,8 @@ def configure(conf):
 
     conf.load('autooptions')
 
+    conf.recurse('compat')
+
     # Check for functions.
     conf.check(
             fragment=''
@@ -729,6 +733,8 @@ def build(bld):
         # only the wscript in common/ knows how to handle variants
         return
 
+    bld.recurse('compat')
+
     if not os.access('svnversion.h', os.R_OK):
         def post_run(self):
             sg = Utils.h_file(self.outputs[0].abspath(self.env))