diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 263f445..e7bad55 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ Use the following steps to build Ghidrathon for your environment:
 * Download the latest Ghidrathon source release from [here](https://github.com/mandiant/Ghidrathon/releases)
 * Run the following command from the Ghidrathon source directory:
     * **Note:** Ghidrathon defaults to the Python binary found in your path. You can specify a different Python binary by adding the optional argument `-PPYTHON_BIN=<absolute path to Python binary>` to the command below
+    * **Note:** you may optionally set an environment variable named `GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR` instead of specifying `-PGHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR`
 
 ```
 $ gradle -PGHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR=<absolute path to Ghidra install>
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 618e1e7..59b952f 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -58,12 +58,14 @@ tasks.matching { it.name != 'copyJepNativeBinaries' && it.name != 'installJep' }
 //----------------------START "DO NOT MODIFY" SECTION------------------------------
 def ghidraInstallDir
 
-if (System.env.GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR) {
-    ghidraInstallDir = System.env.GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR
-}
-else if (project.hasProperty("GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR")) {
+if (project.hasProperty("GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR")) {
     ghidraInstallDir = project.getProperty("GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR")
 }
+else if (System.env.GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR) {
+    ghidraInstallDir = System.env.GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR
+}
+
+project.logger.lifecycle("Using Ghidra install directory " + ghidraInstallDir)
 
 if (ghidraInstallDir) {
     apply from: new File(ghidraInstallDir).getCanonicalPath() + "/support/buildExtension.gradle"