diff --git a/bloom/generators/debian/generate_cmd.py b/bloom/generators/debian/generate_cmd.py
index 5dc9f8b9..7ca1d139 100644
--- a/bloom/generators/debian/generate_cmd.py
+++ b/bloom/generators/debian/generate_cmd.py
@@ -79,17 +79,19 @@ def prepare_arguments(parser):
     add('--native', action='store_true', help="generate native package")
     add('--ignore-shlibs-missing-info', default=False, action="store_true",
         help="Ignore missing library info detected by shlibs")
+    add('--src-dir', help='Location of source directory in package')
     return parser
 
 
-def get_subs(pkg, os_name, os_version, ros_distro, deb_inc=0, native=False):
+def get_subs(pkg, os_name, os_version, ros_distro, deb_inc=0, native=False, source_directory=None):
     return generate_substitutions_from_package(
         pkg,
         os_name,
         os_version,
         ros_distro,
         deb_inc=deb_inc,
-        native=native
+        native=native,
+        source_directory=source_directory
     )
 
 
@@ -127,7 +129,7 @@ def main(args=None, get_subs_fn=None):
     for path, pkg in pkgs_dict.items():
         template_files = None
         try:
-            subs = get_subs_fn(pkg, os_name, os_version, ros_distro, args.debian_inc, args.native)
+            subs = get_subs_fn(pkg, os_name, os_version, ros_distro, args.debian_inc, args.native, args.src_dir)
             if _place_template_files:
                 # Place template files
                 place_template_files(path, pkg.get_build_type())
diff --git a/bloom/generators/debian/generator.py b/bloom/generators/debian/generator.py
index e78c08b8..22e00d82 100644
--- a/bloom/generators/debian/generator.py
+++ b/bloom/generators/debian/generator.py
@@ -316,7 +316,8 @@ def generate_substitutions_from_package(
     peer_packages=None,
     releaser_history=None,
     fallback_resolver=None,
-    native=False
+    native=False,
+    source_directory=None
 ):
     peer_packages = peer_packages or []
     data = {}
@@ -344,6 +345,8 @@ def generate_substitutions_from_package(
     data['Package'] = sanitize_package_name(package.name)
     # Installation prefix
     data['InstallationPrefix'] = installation_prefix
+    # Source directory
+    data['SourceDirectory'] = source_directory
     # Resolve dependencies
     evaluate_package_conditions(package, ros_distro)
     depends = [
diff --git a/bloom/generators/debian/templates/cmake/rules.em b/bloom/generators/debian/templates/cmake/rules.em
index 284a0714..6573ecc4 100755
--- a/bloom/generators/debian/templates/cmake/rules.em
+++ b/bloom/generators/debian/templates/cmake/rules.em
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@ export DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH := $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_MULTIARCH)
 
 DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE ?= $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)
 
+@{
+dh_arguments = ''
+if SourceDirectory:
+    dh_arguments += f" -D{SourceDirectory}"
+}@
 %:
-	dh $@@ -v --buildsystem=cmake --builddirectory=.obj-$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)
+	dh $@@ -v --buildsystem=cmake --builddirectory=.obj-$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)@(dh_arguments)
 
 override_dh_auto_configure:
 	# In case we're installing to a non-standard location, look for a setup.sh