diff --git a/config/PETSc/Configure.py b/config/PETSc/Configure.py
index d8d7157..0acfd6c 100644
--- a/config/PETSc/Configure.py
+++ b/config/PETSc/Configure.py
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ class Configure(config.base.Configure):
 
   def setupHelp(self, help):
     import nargs
-    help.addArgument('PETSc',  '-prefix=<dir>',                  nargs.Arg(None, '', 'Specifiy location to install PETSc (eg. /usr/local)'))
+    help.addArgument('PETSc',  '-prefix=<dir>',                   nargs.Arg(None, '', 'Specifiy location to install PETSc (eg. /usr/local)'))
+    help.addArgument('PETSc',  '-with-prefetch=<bool>',           nargs.ArgBool(None, 1,'Enable checking for prefetch instructions'))
     help.addArgument('Windows','-with-windows-graphics=<bool>',   nargs.ArgBool(None, 1,'Enable check for Windows Graphics'))
     help.addArgument('PETSc', '-with-default-arch=<bool>',        nargs.ArgBool(None, 1, 'Allow using the last configured arch without setting PETSC_ARCH'))
     help.addArgument('PETSc','-with-single-library=<bool>',       nargs.ArgBool(None, 1,'Put all PETSc code into the single -lpetsc library'))
@@ -605,7 +606,7 @@ prepend-path PATH %s
 
   def configurePrefetch(self):
     '''Sees if there are any prefetch functions supported'''
-    if config.setCompilers.Configure.isSolaris() or self.framework.argDB['with-ios']:
+    if config.setCompilers.Configure.isSolaris() or self.framework.argDB['with-ios'] or not self.framework.argDB['with-prefetch']:
       self.addDefine('Prefetch(a,b,c)', ' ')
       return
     self.pushLanguage(self.languages.clanguage)