diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index da17f3a..352bfe1 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
         http: ""
         https: ""
         noproxy: ""
+      makefile_chdir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
       image_config_dir: config
     check:
       jobs:
diff --git a/playbooks/airship-images-build.yaml b/playbooks/airship-images-build.yaml
index 759fbb3..9ff9b9c 100644
--- a/playbooks/airship-images-build.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/airship-images-build.yaml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     - name: Publish images
       block:
         - make:
-            chdir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
+            chdir: "{{ makefile_chdir }}"
             target: "images"
             params:
               COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev | default('') }}"
diff --git a/playbooks/airship-images-publish.yaml b/playbooks/airship-images-publish.yaml
index 27fd1b1..9f50928 100644
--- a/playbooks/airship-images-publish.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/airship-images-publish.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
             password: "{{ airship_images_quay_creds.password }}"
             registry_url: "{{ docker_registry }}"
         - make:
-            chdir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
+            chdir: "{{ makefile_chdir }}"
             target: "images"
             params:
               COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev | default('') }}"
diff --git a/playbooks/airship-images-test.yaml b/playbooks/airship-images-test.yaml
index 19fdca6..5830809 100644
--- a/playbooks/airship-images-test.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/airship-images-test.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
       block:
         - name: "make tests"
           make:
-            chdir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
+            chdir: "{{ makefile_chdir }}"
             target: tests
     - name: install libvirt
       include_role: