diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index 6c905a0..d19607a 100644
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -255,18 +255,6 @@
 def reset_tf_configure_bazelrc():
   """Reset file that contains customized config settings."""
   open(_TF_BAZELRC, 'w').close()
-  bazelrc_path = os.path.join(_TF_WORKSPACE_ROOT, '.bazelrc')
-
-  data = []
-  if os.path.exists(bazelrc_path):
-    with open(bazelrc_path, 'r') as f:
-      data = f.read().splitlines()
-  with open(bazelrc_path, 'w') as f:
-    for l in data:
-      if _TF_BAZELRC_FILENAME in l:
-        continue
-      f.write('%s\n' % l)
-    f.write('import %%workspace%%/%s\n' % _TF_BAZELRC_FILENAME)
 
 def cleanup_makefile():
   """Delete any leftover BUILD files from the Makefile build.
@@ -488,11 +476,11 @@
   if curr_version_int < min_version_int:
     print('Please upgrade your bazel installation to version %s or higher to '
           'build TensorFlow!' % min_version)
-    sys.exit(0)
-  if curr_version_int > max_version_int:
+    sys.exit(1)
+  if curr_version_int > max_version_int and not 'TF_IGNORE_MAX_BAZEL_VERSION' in os.environ:
     print('Please downgrade your bazel installation to version %s or lower to '
           'build TensorFlow!' % max_version)
-    sys.exit(0)
+    sys.exit(1)
   return curr_version
 
 
@@ -1565,11 +1553,9 @@
   # environment variables.
   environ_cp = dict(os.environ)
 
-  check_bazel_version('0.15.0', '0.20.0')
+  check_bazel_version('0.18.0', '0.20.0')
 
   reset_tf_configure_bazelrc()
-  # Explicitly import tools/bazel.rc, this is needed for Bazel 0.19.0 or later
-  write_to_bazelrc('import %workspace%/tools/bazel.rc')
 
   cleanup_makefile()
   setup_python(environ_cp)