diff --git a/makepanda/expandimports.bat b/makepanda/expandimports.bat
index a8cfcd1a8b..ee2dcc6c3e 100644
--- a/makepanda/expandimports.bat
+++ b/makepanda/expandimports.bat
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@ REM and the python interpreter.  If we can find both, then
 REM run 'expandimports'.
 REM
 
+set thirdparty=thirdparty
+if defined MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY set thirdparty=%MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY%
+
 if not exist makepanda\expandimports.py goto :missing1
-if not exist thirdparty\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
-thirdparty\win-python\python.exe makepanda\expandimports.py %*
+if not exist %thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
+%thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe makepanda\expandimports.py %*
 goto done
 
 :missing1
diff --git a/makepanda/makechm.bat b/makepanda/makechm.bat
index bd4a636b74..5a4b1b38e1 100755
--- a/makepanda/makechm.bat
+++ b/makepanda/makechm.bat
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@ REM and the python interpreter.  If we can find both, then
 REM run 'makechm'.
 REM
 
+set thirdparty=thirdparty
+if defined MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY set thirdparty=%MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY%
+
 if not exist makepanda\makechm.py goto :missing1
-if not exist thirdparty\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
-thirdparty\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makechm.py %*
+if not exist %thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
+%thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makechm.py %*
 goto done
 
 :missing1
diff --git a/makepanda/makedocs.bat b/makepanda/makedocs.bat
index 7915f7e87f..c628e2ec81 100644
--- a/makepanda/makedocs.bat
+++ b/makepanda/makedocs.bat
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@ REM and the python interpreter.  If we can find both, then
 REM run 'makedocs'.
 REM
 
+set thirdparty=thirdparty
+if defined MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY set thirdparty=%MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY%
+
 if not exist makepanda\makedocs.py goto :missing1
-if not exist thirdparty\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
-thirdparty\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makedocs.py %*
+if not exist %thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
+%thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makedocs.py %*
 goto done
 
 :missing1
diff --git a/makepanda/makepanda.bat b/makepanda/makepanda.bat
index 4999577a77..1ffa327355 100755
--- a/makepanda/makepanda.bat
+++ b/makepanda/makepanda.bat
@@ -6,17 +6,20 @@ REM and the python interpreter.  If we can find both, then
 REM run 'makepanda'.
 REM
 
+set thirdparty=thirdparty
+if defined MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY set thirdparty=%MAKEPANDA_THIRDPARTY%
+
 if not exist makepanda\makepanda.py goto :missing1
 if %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE% == AMD64 goto :AMD64
 
-if not exist thirdparty\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
-thirdparty\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makepanda.py %*
+if not exist %thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe goto :missing2
+%thirdparty%\win-python\python.exe makepanda\makepanda.py %*
 if errorlevel 1 if x%1 == x--slavebuild exit 1
 goto done
 
 :AMD64
-if not exist thirdparty\win-python-x64\python.exe goto :missing2
-thirdparty\win-python-x64\python.exe makepanda\makepanda.py %*
+if not exist %thirdparty%\win-python-x64\python.exe goto :missing2
+%thirdparty%\win-python-x64\python.exe makepanda\makepanda.py %*
 if errorlevel 1 if x%1 == x--slavebuild exit 1
 goto done