diff --git a/makepanda/makepandacore.py b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
index 95af98b493..57be97cbb7 100644
--- a/makepanda/makepandacore.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
@@ -1552,7 +1552,7 @@ def SmartPkgEnable(pkg, pkgconfig = None, libs = None, incs = None, defs = None,
             if (have_all_pkgs):
                 return
 
-    if pkgconfig is not None and not libs:
+    if not custom_loc and pkgconfig is not None and not libs:
         # pkg-config is all we can do, abort if it wasn't found.
         if pkg in PkgListGet():
             print("%sWARNING:%s Could not locate pkg-config package %s, excluding from build" % (GetColor("red"), GetColor(), pkgconfig))