diff --git a/android/build.py b/android/build.py
index e484bd9a6..657c7b28b 100755
--- a/android/build.py
+++ b/android/build.py
@@ -37,8 +37,13 @@ mpd_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]) or '.', '..
 
 # output directories
 lib_path = os.path.abspath('lib')
-tarball_path = os.path.join(lib_path, 'download')
-src_path = os.path.join(lib_path, 'src')
+
+shared_path = lib_path
+if 'MPD_SHARED_LIB' in os.environ:
+    shared_path = os.environ['MPD_SHARED_LIB']
+tarball_path = os.path.join(shared_path, 'download')
+src_path = os.path.join(shared_path, 'src')
+
 arch_path = os.path.join(lib_path, host_arch)
 build_path = os.path.join(arch_path, 'build')
 root_path = os.path.join(arch_path, 'root')
diff --git a/win32/build.py b/win32/build.py
index 0b31c50de..e74a43d60 100755
--- a/win32/build.py
+++ b/win32/build.py
@@ -19,8 +19,13 @@ mpd_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]) or '.', '..
 
 # output directories
 lib_path = os.path.abspath('lib')
-tarball_path = os.path.join(lib_path, 'download')
-src_path = os.path.join(lib_path, 'src')
+
+shared_path = lib_path
+if 'MPD_SHARED_LIB' in os.environ:
+    shared_path = os.environ['MPD_SHARED_LIB']
+tarball_path = os.path.join(shared_path, 'download')
+src_path = os.path.join(shared_path, 'src')
+
 arch_path = os.path.join(lib_path, host_arch)
 build_path = os.path.join(arch_path, 'build')
 root_path = os.path.join(arch_path, 'root')