diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/meson-python/add-build-flags.sh b/pkgs/development/python-modules/meson-python/add-build-flags.sh
index 8604ba9ebe7c..870ad01fb107 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/meson-python/add-build-flags.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/meson-python/add-build-flags.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 mesonPythonBuildFlagsHook() {
+  # Use a build directory with a deterministic path by setting `build-dir` [1]
+  # and allow consumers to override it via `mesonBuildDir`.
+  # Setting `build-dir` also causes the build directory to be _persistent_,
+  # i.e., it won't be deleted after the build [2].
+  #
+  # [1] https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson-python/issues/671
+  # [2] https://mesonbuild.com/meson-python/how-to-guides/config-settings.html#using-a-persistent-build-directory
+  #
+  : ${mesonBuildDir:=build}
+  appendToVar pypaBuildFlags "-Cbuild-dir=$mesonBuildDir"
+  appendToVar pipBuildFlags "-Cbuild-dir=$mesonBuildDir"
+
   # Add all of mesonFlags to -Csetup-args for pypa builds
   local flagsArray=()
   concatTo flagsArray mesonFlags mesonFlagsArray