diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/gclient/config.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/gclient/config.py
index 3164945ee..db5ab5e42 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/gclient/config.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/gclient/config.py
@@ -411,6 +411,12 @@ def angle(c):
   soln = c.solutions.add()
   soln.name = 'angle'
   soln.url = 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/angle/angle.git'
+  # Standalone developer angle builds want the angle checkout in the same
+  # directory the .gclient file is in.  Bots want it in a directory called
+  # 'angle'.  To make both cases work, the angle DEPS file pulls deps and runs
+  # hooks relative to the variable "root" which is set to . by default and
+  # then to 'angle' in the recipes here:
+  soln.custom_vars = {'angle_root': 'angle'}
   c.got_revision_mapping['angle'] = 'got_revision'
 
 @config_ctx()