diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f625d6f8..57157126 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ nb-configuration.xml
 
 ## Gradle
 .gradle
+keystore.properties
 gradle-app.setting
 
 ## OS Specific
diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index 4a39d833..3e495edf 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -25,6 +25,23 @@ android {
         targetCompatibility 1.8
         sourceCompatibility 1.8
     }
+
+    // optional signingConfigs
+    def keystorePropertiesFile = rootProject.file("keystore.properties")
+    if (keystorePropertiesFile.exists()) {
+        def keystoreProperties = new Properties()
+        keystoreProperties.load(new FileInputStream(keystorePropertiesFile))
+
+        signingConfigs {
+            release {
+                keyAlias keystoreProperties['keyAlias']
+                keyPassword keystoreProperties['keyPassword']
+                storeFile file(keystoreProperties['storeFile'])
+                storePassword keystoreProperties['storePassword']
+            }
+        }
+        buildTypes.release.signingConfig = signingConfigs.release
+    }
 }
 
 gradle.projectsEvaluated {