diff --git a/irods_consortium_continuous_integration_build_hook.py b/irods_consortium_continuous_integration_build_hook.py
index b96a534..23ecd2d 100644
--- a/irods_consortium_continuous_integration_build_hook.py
+++ b/irods_consortium_continuous_integration_build_hook.py
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ def copy_output_packages(build_directory, output_root_directory):
         irods_python_ci_utilities.append_os_specific_directory(output_root_directory),
         lambda s:s.endswith(irods_python_ci_utilities.get_package_suffix()))
 
-def main(output_root_directory, irods_packages_root_directory, externals_directory):
+def main(build_directory, output_root_directory, irods_packages_root_directory, externals_directory):
     install_building_dependencies(externals_directory)
     if irods_packages_root_directory:
         irods_python_ci_utilities.install_irods_dev_and_runtime_packages(irods_packages_root_directory)
-    build_directory = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='irods_storage_tiering_plugin_build_directory')
+    build_directory = os.path.abspath(build_directory or tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='irods_storage_tiering_plugin_build_directory'))
     irods_python_ci_utilities.subprocess_get_output(['cmake', os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))], check_rc=True, cwd=build_directory)
     irods_python_ci_utilities.subprocess_get_output(['make', '-j', str(multiprocessing.cpu_count()), 'package'], check_rc=True, cwd=build_directory)
     if output_root_directory:
@@ -72,9 +72,13 @@ def main(output_root_directory, irods_packages_root_directory, externals_directo
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser = optparse.OptionParser()
+    parser.add_option('--build_directory')
     parser.add_option('--output_root_directory')
     parser.add_option('--irods_packages_root_directory')
     parser.add_option('--externals_packages_directory')
     options, _ = parser.parse_args()
 
-    main(options.output_root_directory, options.irods_packages_root_directory, options.externals_packages_directory)
+    main(options.build_directory,
+         options.output_root_directory,
+         options.irods_packages_root_directory,
+         options.externals_packages_directory)