diff --git a/makepanda/makepandacore.py b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
index 932210f9c7..7040d34851 100644
--- a/makepanda/makepandacore.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
@@ -2159,7 +2159,7 @@ def SdkLocatePython(prefer_thirdparty_python=False):
         SDK["PYTHONEXEC"] = tp_python + "/bin/" + SDK["PYTHONVERSION"]
         SDK["PYTHON"] = tp_python + "/include/" + SDK["PYTHONVERSION"]
 
-    elif GetTarget() == 'darwin':
+    elif GetTarget() == 'darwin' and not PkgHasCustomLocation("PYTHON"):
         # On macOS, search for the Python framework directory matching the
         # version number of our current Python version.
         sysroot = SDK.get("MACOSX", "")