diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c4ba441..7d51a85 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -101,12 +101,14 @@ configure_file(
   configuration : cdata,
 )
 
-if meson.is_subproject()
-  bwrapdir = get_option('libexecdir')
+if meson.is_subproject() and get_option('program_prefix') == ''
+  error('program_prefix option must be set when bwrap is a subproject')
+endif
 
-  if get_option('program_prefix') == ''
-    error('program_prefix option must be set when bwrap is a subproject')
-  endif
+if get_option('bwrapdir') != ''
+  bwrapdir = get_option('bwrapdir')
+elif meson.is_subproject()
+  bwrapdir = get_option('libexecdir')
 else
   bwrapdir = get_option('bindir')
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index a136a3c..87bac9c 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ option(
   description : 'install bash completion script in this directory',
   value : '',
 )
+option(
+  'bwrapdir',
+  type : 'string',
+  description : 'install bwrap in this directory [default: bindir, or libexecdir in subprojects]',
+)
 option(
   'man',
   type : 'feature',