diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/project.el b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
index 000a05804a8..bd1264b5525 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/project.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
@@ -1387,15 +1387,33 @@ project-compilation-buffer-name-function
                         project-prefixed-buffer-name)
                  (function :tag "Custom function")))
 
+(defvar project-build-functions nil
+  "Special hook to find the project build configuration.
+Each functions on this hook is called in turn with one
+argument (project), and should return either nil to mean that it is not
+applicable, or a plist with build configuration.
+
+The configuration can contain keys such as `:compile-dir',
+`:compile-command', or others.")
+
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun project-compile ()
-  "Run `compile' in the project root."
+  "Run `compile' in the project build directory.
+Uses the `project-build-functions' hook to determine the compile command
+and the directory to run it in."
   (declare (interactive-only compile))
   (interactive)
-  (let ((default-directory (project-root (project-current t)))
-        (compilation-buffer-name-function
-         (or project-compilation-buffer-name-function
-             compilation-buffer-name-function)))
+  (let* ((project (project-current t))
+         (build-config (run-hook-with-args 'project-build-functions project))
+         (default-directory (if (plist-get build-config :compile-dir)
+                                (expand-file-name (plist-get build-config :compile-dir)
+                                                  (project-root project))
+                              default-directory))
+         (compile-command (or (plist-get build-config :compile-command)
+                              compile-command))
+         (compilation-buffer-name-function
+          (or project-compilation-buffer-name-function
+              compilation-buffer-name-function)))
     (call-interactively #'compile)))
 
 (defun project-recompile (&optional edit-command)