diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 283ead8f35..06edeaff54 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@ configure_file("${netCDF_SOURCE_DIR}/config.h.cmake.in"
 
 add_definitions(-DHAVE_CONFIG_H)
 
-include_directories(${netCDF_BINARY_DIR})
+include_directories(BEFORE ${netCDF_BINARY_DIR})
 # End autotools-style checks for config.h
 
 #####