diff --git a/cmake/download_test_data.cmake b/cmake/download_test_data.cmake
index fe95235f89..7d73c6d35d 100644
--- a/cmake/download_test_data.cmake
+++ b/cmake/download_test_data.cmake
@@ -3,15 +3,21 @@ find_package(Git)
 set(JSON_TEST_DATA_URL     https://github.com/nlohmann/json_test_data)
 set(JSON_TEST_DATA_VERSION 2.0.0)
 
-# target to download test data
-add_custom_target(download_test_data
-    COMMAND test -d json_test_data || ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} clone -c advice.detachedHead=false --branch v${JSON_TEST_DATA_VERSION} ${JSON_TEST_DATA_URL}.git --quiet --depth 1
-    COMMENT "Downloading test data from ${JSON_TEST_DATA_URL} (v${JSON_TEST_DATA_VERSION})"
-    WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}
-)
-
-# create a header with the path to the downloaded test data
-file(WRITE ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/include/test_data.hpp "#define TEST_DATA_DIRECTORY \"${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/json_test_data\"\n")
+# if variable is set, use test data from given directory rather than downloading them
+if(JSON_TestDataDirectory)
+    message(STATUS "Using test data in ${JSON_TestDataDirectory}.")
+    add_custom_target(download_test_data)
+    file(WRITE ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/include/test_data.hpp "#define TEST_DATA_DIRECTORY \"${JSON_TestDataDirectory}\"\n")
+else()
+    # target to download test data
+    add_custom_target(download_test_data
+        COMMAND test -d json_test_data || ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} clone -c advice.detachedHead=false --branch v${JSON_TEST_DATA_VERSION} ${JSON_TEST_DATA_URL}.git --quiet --depth 1
+        COMMENT "Downloading test data from ${JSON_TEST_DATA_URL} (v${JSON_TEST_DATA_VERSION})"
+        WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}
+    )
+    # create a header with the path to the downloaded test data
+    file(WRITE ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/include/test_data.hpp "#define TEST_DATA_DIRECTORY \"${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/json_test_data\"\n")
+endif()
 
 # determine the operating system (for debug and support purposes)
 find_program(UNAME_COMMAND uname)