diff --git a/eclass/meson.eclass b/eclass/meson.eclass
index 9e877be53309c..3bf0ba9ebe97e 100644
--- a/eclass/meson.eclass
+++ b/eclass/meson.eclass
@@ -374,8 +374,6 @@ setup_meson_src_configure() {
 		MESONARGS+=( --cross-file "$(_meson_create_cross_file)" )
 	fi
 
-	BUILD_DIR="${BUILD_DIR:-${WORKDIR}/${P}-build}"
-
 	# Handle quoted whitespace
 	eval "local -a MYMESONARGS=( ${MYMESONARGS} )"
 
@@ -412,6 +410,8 @@ meson_src_configure() {
 
 	[[ -n "${NINJA_DEPEND}" ]] || ewarn "Unknown value '${NINJA}' for \${NINJA}"
 
+	BUILD_DIR="${BUILD_DIR:-${WORKDIR}/${P}-build}"
+
 	(
 		setup_meson_src_configure "$@"
 		MESONARGS+=(