diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ce76123e1f..8cb305e935 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -76,7 +76,12 @@ endif
 
 srcDir := $(shell dirname '$(subst /Volumes/Macintosh HD/,/,$(realpath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))')
 buildDir := $(srcDir)/build/build_$(config)
-outDir := $(srcDir)/build/$(config)
+
+# get outDir from CMake install file or fall back to default if the file doesn't exist
+outDir := $(subst /libponyrt.tests,,$(shell grep -o -s '$(srcDir)\/build\/$(config).*\/libponyrt.tests' $(buildDir)/cmake_install.cmake))
+ifeq ($(outDir),)
+  outDir := $(srcDir)/build/$(config)
+endif
 
 libsSrcDir := $(srcDir)/lib
 libsBuildDir := $(srcDir)/build/build_libs