diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
index 8e3993fadc1..d37e25943b5 100755
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ cmakeConfigurePhase() {
     if [ -z "$dontUseCmakeBuildDir" ]; then
         mkdir -p build
         cd build
-        cmakeDir=..
+        cmakeDir=${cmakeDir:-..}
     fi
 
     if [ -z "$dontAddPrefix" ]; then