diff -Nur ddd-3.3.11/configure.ac ddd-3.3.11.new/configure.ac
--- ddd-3.3.11/configure.ac	2005-03-04 02:25:01.000000000 -0800
+++ ddd-3.3.11.new/configure.ac	2005-07-10 00:41:54.000000000 -0700
@@ -1043,6 +1043,11 @@
 [Define if you want the DDD VSL library to be compiled into DDD.])
 fi
 dnl
+AC_ARG_WITH(userinfo,
+AS_HELP_STRING([--with-userinfo=USERINFO],[builder info to display in the About dialog]),
+	USERINFO="$withval", USERINFO="")
+AC_SUBST(USERINFO)
+dnl
 dnl Check for risky LessTif versions.
 dnl
 risky_lesstif=false
diff -Nur ddd-3.3.11/ddd/Makefile.am ddd-3.3.11.new/ddd/Makefile.am
--- ddd-3.3.11/ddd/Makefile.am	2004-07-27 02:06:29.000000000 -0700
+++ ddd-3.3.11.new/ddd/Makefile.am	2005-07-10 00:34:41.000000000 -0700
@@ -899,9 +899,15 @@
 
 
 # If `~/.ddd_userinfo' exists, use this file as personal identification.
-USERINFO.txt: userinfo$(EXEEXT)
-	-(cat $$HOME/.ddd_userinfo 2> /dev/null || \
-	./userinfo || echo '(unknown)') > $@~ && $(MV) $@~ $@
+USERINFO.txt:
+	-if test "x$(USERINFO)" != "x"; then \
+		echo "$(USERINFO)"; \
+	elif test -f $$HOME/.ddd_userinfo; then \
+		cat $$HOME/.ddd_userinfo; \
+	else \
+		$(MAKE) userinfo$(EXEEXT); \
+		./userinfo || echo '(unknown)'; \
+	fi > $@~ && $(MV) $@~ $@
 	@$(ECHO) ""
 	@$(ECHO) "Please check your name and e-mail address:"
 	@$(ECHO) ""
