diff --git a/autoninja.py b/autoninja.py
index 539ee2ae1..b911a6f3f 100755
--- a/autoninja.py
+++ b/autoninja.py
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ def main(args):
                      line_without_comment):
           use_remoteexec = True
           continue
+        if re.search(r'(^|\s)(use_rbe)\s*=\s*true($|\s)', line_without_comment):
+          use_remoteexec = True
+          continue
   else:
     for relative_path in [
         '',  # GN keeps them in the root of output_dir