diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/utilities/cache-directory.ts b/packages/workspace/src/utilities/cache-directory.ts
index 7e5cda86c040e2..b576a7139b43f4 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/utilities/cache-directory.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/utilities/cache-directory.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import { join } from 'path';
 import { readJsonFile } from './fileutils';
 
 export function readCacheDirectoryProperty(root: string) {
+  const cacheDir = process.env.NX_CACHE_DIRECTORY;
+  if (cacheDir) {
+    return cacheDir;
+  }
   try {
     const nxJson = readJsonFile(join(root, 'nx.json'));
     return nxJson.tasksRunnerOptions.default.options.cacheDirectory;