diff --git a/src/soc/amd/mendocino/Makefile.inc b/src/soc/amd/mendocino/Makefile.inc
index e1dda83870..92c75f8ded 100644
--- a/src/soc/amd/mendocino/Makefile.inc
+++ b/src/soc/amd/mendocino/Makefile.inc
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ CPPFLAGS_common += -I$(src)/soc/amd/mendocino/include
 CPPFLAGS_common += -I$(src)/soc/amd/mendocino/acpi
 CPPFLAGS_common += -I$(src)/vendorcode/amd/fsp/mendocino
 
+# allow site-local Makefile to override blobs location
+ifeq ($(MAINBOARD_BLOBS_DIR),)
 MAINBOARD_BLOBS_DIR:=$(top)/3rdparty/blobs/mainboard/$(MAINBOARDDIR)
+endif
 
 # ROMSIG Normally At ROMBASE + 0x20000
 # Overridden by CONFIG_AMD_FWM_POSITION_INDEX