diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f2c95c35ff..f9d03c9a2c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -180,10 +180,12 @@ endif()
 
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 
-if(CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBDIR)
-    set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBDIR}")
-else()
-    set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib")
+if (NOT DEFINED CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH)
+    if(CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBDIR)
+        set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBDIR}")
+    else()
+        set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib")
+    endif()
 endif()
 
 if(C_LINUX)