diff --git a/scripts/cmake/toolchains/toolchain-preset.json b/scripts/cmake/toolchains/toolchain-preset.json
index 30b5366..19ea6f8 100644
--- a/scripts/cmake/toolchains/toolchain-preset.json
+++ b/scripts/cmake/toolchains/toolchain-preset.json
@@ -7,9 +7,18 @@
     },
     "configurePresets": [
         {
+            "name": "source-dir",
+            "description": "Sets the root of the ml-embedded-eval-kit repo. This should be overridden if this repo is used as a submodule/dependency.",
+            "hidden": true,
+            "environment": {
+                "MLEK_BASE_DIR": "${sourceDir}/"
+            }
+        },
+        {
             "name": "gcc-toolchain",
             "description": "Use gcc toolchain.",
             "hidden": true,
+            "inherits": ["source-dir"],
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": {
                     "type": "STRING",
@@ -21,6 +30,7 @@
             "name": "armclang-toolchain",
             "description": "Use armclang toolchain.",
             "hidden": true,
+            "inherits": ["source-dir"],
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": {
                     "type": "STRING",
@@ -32,6 +42,7 @@
             "name": "native-toolchain",
             "description": "Use native toolchain.",
             "hidden": true,
+            "inherits": ["source-dir"],
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": {
                     "type": "STRING",