diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
index 22f6fc4..f11e0c3 100644
--- a/build.rs
+++ b/build.rs
@@ -83,31 +83,35 @@ fn main() {
             fail_build();
         }
 
-        // install the dylib to system path
-        let libffi_out_path =
-            drift_ffi_sys_crate.join(Path::new(&format!("target/{profile}/{LIB}.{lib_ext}")));
-        let output = std::process::Command::new("ln")
-            .args([
-                "-sf",
-                libffi_out_path.to_str().expect("ffi build path"),
-                "/usr/local/lib/",
-            ])
-            .output()
-            .expect("install ok");
-
         if !output.status.success() {
             eprintln!(
                 "{LIB} could not be installed: {}",
                 String::from_utf8_lossy(output.stderr.as_slice())
             );
         }
+
+        if let Ok(out_dir) = std::env::var("OUT_DIR") {
+            println!("cargo:rustc-link-search=native={out_dir}");
+        } else {
+            // install the dylib to system path
+            let libffi_out_path =
+                drift_ffi_sys_crate.join(Path::new(&format!("target/{profile}/{LIB}.{lib_ext}")));
+            let _output = std::process::Command::new("ln")
+                .args([
+                    "-sf",
+                    libffi_out_path.to_str().expect("ffi build path"),
+                    "/usr/local/lib/",
+                ])
+                .output()
+                .expect("install ok");
+            println!("cargo:rustc-link-search=native=/usr/local/lib/");
+        }
     }
 
     if let Ok(lib_path) = std::env::var("CARGO_DRIFT_FFI_PATH") {
         println!("{LIB}: searching for lib at: {lib_path}");
         println!("cargo:rustc-link-search=native={lib_path}");
     }
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-search=native=/usr/local/lib");
     println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=dylib=drift_ffi_sys");
 }