diff --git a/include/cmake.mk b/include/cmake.mk
index 9b169b069..b1f05bd50 100644
--- a/include/cmake.mk
+++ b/include/cmake.mk
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ CMAKE_RANLIB:=$(call cmake_tool,$(TARGET_RANLIB))
 CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH:=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr;$(TOOLCHAIN_DIR)$(if $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAIN),;$(CONFIG_TOOLCHAIN_ROOT))
 CMAKE_HOST_FIND_ROOT_PATH:=$(STAGING_DIR)/host;$(STAGING_DIR_HOSTPKG);$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)
 CMAKE_SHARED_LDFLAGS:=-Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions
-CMAKE_HOST_INSTALL_PREFIX = $(HOST_BUILD_PREFIX)
+CMAKE_HOST_INSTALL_PREFIX ?= $(HOST_BUILD_PREFIX)
 
 ifeq ($(HOST_USE_NINJA),1)
   CMAKE_HOST_OPTIONS += -DCMAKE_GENERATOR="Ninja"