diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
index dc99914c..f622fc7b 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
@@ -1188,11 +1188,12 @@ def get_checksum_file_list(d):
 
         if ud and isinstance(ud.method, local.Local):
             paths = ud.method.localpaths(ud, d)
+            strict = d.getVar("BB_STRICT_CHECKSUM", True) or "0"
             for f in paths:
                 pth = ud.decodedurl
                 if '*' in pth:
                     f = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(f), pth)
-                if f.startswith(dl_dir):
+                if f.startswith(dl_dir) and (strict == "1"):
                     # The local fetcher's behaviour is to return a path under DL_DIR if it couldn't find the file anywhere else
                     if os.path.exists(f):
                         bb.warn("Getting checksum for %s SRC_URI entry %s: file not found except in DL_DIR" % (d.getVar('PN'), os.path.basename(f)))