diff --git a/mode/perl.py b/mode/perl.py
index 772a7f3..1206678 100644
--- a/mode/perl.py
+++ b/mode/perl.py
@@ -299,6 +299,9 @@ class Perl(mode.Fundamental):
         'translate.end':     ('magenta', 'default'),
         'translate.null':    ('magenta', 'default'),
     }
+    config = {
+        'perl.lib': 'lib',
+    }
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
 
@@ -321,7 +324,6 @@ class Perl(mode.Fundamental):
 
         # perl-specific
         self.functions = None
-        self.perllib   = 'lib'
 
     def build_function_map(self):
         b = self.window.buffer
@@ -352,7 +354,11 @@ class PerlCheckSyntax(Method):
     '''Check the syntax of a perl file'''
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
         app = w.application
-        cmd = "perl -c -I '%s' '%s'" % (w.mode.perllib, w.buffer.path)
+        perllib = w.application.config.get('perl.lib')
+        if perllib:
+            cmd = "perl -c -I '%s' '%s'" % (perllib, w.buffer.path)
+        else:
+            cmd = "perl -c '%s'" % (w.buffer.path)
         (status, output) = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd)
         if status == 0:
             app.set_error("Syntax OK")
@@ -371,9 +377,12 @@ class PerlViewWordPerldoc(Method):
     '''View documentation about a package or function using perldoc'''
     def _try(self, w, word, asfunc=False):
         if asfunc:
-            cmd = "PERL5LIB=%r perldoc -t -T -f '%s'" % (w.mode.perllib, word)
+            cmd = "perldoc -t -T -f '%s'" % (word,)
         else:
-            cmd = "PERL5LIB=%r perldoc -t -T '%s'" % (w.mode.perllib, word)
+            cmd = "perldoc -t -T '%s'" % (word,)
+        perllib = w.application.config.get('perl.lib')
+        if perllib:
+            cmd = 'PERL5LIB=%r %s' % cmd
         (status, data) = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd)
         if status == 0:
             return data