diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ca774a4e4..6e5fcb9b2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ if (NOT DEFINED LIBDIR)
     if (WIN32 OR APPLE)
         set (LIBDIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/release)
     else (WIN32 OR APPLE)
-        set (LIBDIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib)
+        # Respect CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR if set
+        if (DEFINED CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR)
+            set (LIBDIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR})
+        else (DEFINED CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR)
+            set (LIBDIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib)
+        endif (DEFINED CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR)
     endif (WIN32 OR APPLE)
 endif (NOT DEFINED LIBDIR)