diff --git a/java/src/main/native/CMakeLists.txt b/java/src/main/native/CMakeLists.txt
index 3a375412bbd..5b5e58f7361 100755
--- a/java/src/main/native/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/java/src/main/native/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -90,18 +90,20 @@ endif()
 #   Set a default build type if none was specified
 rapids_cmake_build_type("Release")
 
-# ##################################################################################################
-# * nvcomp------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-set(nvcomp_DIR "${CUDF_CPP_BUILD_DIR}/_deps/nvcomp-build")
-rapids_find_package(nvcomp REQUIRED)
-
 # ##################################################################################################
 # * CUDF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 set(cudf_ROOT "${CUDF_CPP_BUILD_DIR}")
 rapids_find_package(cudf REQUIRED)
 
+# ##################################################################################################
+# * nvcomp------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+if(NOT DEFINED nvcomp_DIR)
+  set(nvcomp_DIR "${CUDF_CPP_BUILD_DIR}/_deps/nvcomp-build")
+endif()
+rapids_find_package(nvcomp REQUIRED)
+
 # ##################################################################################################
 # * find JNI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 find_package(JNI REQUIRED)