diff --git a/cmake/usage/usage.cmake b/cmake/usage/usage.cmake
index b78002b5387..3bd4f2b6a24 100644
--- a/cmake/usage/usage.cmake
+++ b/cmake/usage/usage.cmake
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ set(arch_list
   xtensa
   )
 
-set(board_dir ${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards)
+set(board_dir $ENV{ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards)
 
 foreach(arch ${arch_list})
   set(board_arch_dir ${board_dir}/${arch})