diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 84c71031386b167c8bcc598575a0f6af55a7c2e9..93a425e8fcfaa18a4b643c64cfc54fbf05b4e2cd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ ${_PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF})
 
 # These variables slightly modify the install location to allow for version
 # specific installations.
-set(INSTALL_DIR_NAME "libcaosdb-${libcaosdb_VERSION}")
+if(NOT INSTALL_DIR_NAME)
+    set(INSTALL_DIR_NAME "libcaosdb-${libcaosdb_VERSION}")
+endif()
 set(libcaosdb_INCLUDE_DEST "include/${INSTALL_DIR_NAME}")
 set(libcaosdb_LIB_DEST "lib/${INSTALL_DIR_NAME}")