diff --git a/ci/build-freebsd.sh b/ci/build-freebsd.sh
index 9cea4124e1..cefa6c2013 100755
--- a/ci/build-freebsd.sh
+++ b/ci/build-freebsd.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ if [ ! -e "./waf" ] ; then
 fi
 
 python3 ./waf configure \
+    --out=build_waf \
     --enable-libmpv-shared \
     --enable-lua \
     --enable-egl-drm \
diff --git a/ci/build-macos.sh b/ci/build-macos.sh
index f7d704a743..cb465b3f51 100755
--- a/ci/build-macos.sh
+++ b/ci/build-macos.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ if [[ $1 = "waf" ]]; then
 
     PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${FFMPEG_SYSROOT}/lib/pkgconfig/" CC="${CC}" CXX="${CXX}" python3 \
       ./waf configure \
+        --out=build_waf \
         --variant="${MPV_VARIANT}" \
         --prefix="${MPV_INSTALL_PREFIX}" \
         --enable-{gl,iconv,lcms2,libmpv-shared,lua,jpeg,plain-gl,zlib} \
@@ -41,5 +42,5 @@ if [[ $1 = "waf" ]]; then
     python3 ./waf build --variant="${MPV_VARIANT}" -j4
 
     python3 ./waf install --variant="${MPV_VARIANT}"
-    ./build/mpv
+    ${MPV_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/mpv
 fi
diff --git a/ci/build-mingw64.sh b/ci/build-mingw64.sh
index 43d5ea1d40..d97e6ace4a 100755
--- a/ci/build-mingw64.sh
+++ b/ci/build-mingw64.sh
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ if [ "$1" = "meson" ]; then
     meson test -C build
 elif [ "$1" = "waf" ]; then
     PKG_CONFIG=pkg-config ./waf configure \
+        --out=build_waf \
         --enable-libmpv-shared --lua=luajit \
         --enable-{shaderc,spirv-cross,d3d11,libplacebo,tests}
 
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ fi
 if [ "$2" = pack ]; then
     mkdir -p artifact
     echo "Copying:"
-    cp -pv build/mpv.{com,exe} "$prefix_dir/bin/"*.dll artifact/
+    cp -pv build_waf/mpv.{com,exe} "$prefix_dir/bin/"*.dll artifact/
     # ship everything and the kitchen sink
     shopt -s nullglob
     for file in /usr/lib/gcc/$TARGET/*-posix/*.dll /usr/$TARGET/lib/*.dll; do
diff --git a/ci/build-msys2.sh b/ci/build-msys2.sh
index 8213389005..7223a538aa 100755
--- a/ci/build-msys2.sh
+++ b/ci/build-msys2.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh -e
 
 if [ "$1" = "meson" ]; then
-    meson setup build_meson      \
+    meson setup build            \
       -D cdda=enabled            \
       -D d3d-hwaccel=enabled     \
       -D d3d11=enabled           \
@@ -22,15 +22,16 @@ if [ "$1" = "meson" ]; then
       -D uchardet=enabled        \
       -D vapoursynth=enabled     \
       -D vulkan=enabled
-    meson compile -C build_meson
-    cp ./build_meson/generated/mpv.com ./build_meson
-    meson test -C build_meson
-    ./build_meson/mpv.com --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
+    meson compile -C build
+    cp ./build/generated/mpv.com ./build
+    meson test -C build
+    ./build/mpv.com --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
 fi
 
 if [ "$1" = "waf" ]; then
     ./bootstrap.py
     ./waf configure            \
+      --out=build_waf          \
       --enable-cdda            \
       --enable-d3d-hwaccel     \
       --enable-d3d11           \
@@ -52,5 +53,5 @@ if [ "$1" = "waf" ]; then
       --lua=luajit             \
       --enable-vulkan
     ./waf build
-    ./build/mpv.com -v --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
+    ./build_waf/mpv.com -v --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
 fi
diff --git a/ci/build-tumbleweed.sh b/ci/build-tumbleweed.sh
index 355ccd92e6..48b464b594 100755
--- a/ci/build-tumbleweed.sh
+++ b/ci/build-tumbleweed.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ if [ "$1" = "meson" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ "$1" = "waf" ]; then
-    python3 ./waf configure \
+    python3 ./waf configure  \
+      --out=build_waf        \
       --enable-cdda          \
       --enable-dvbin         \
       --enable-dvdnav        \
@@ -31,5 +32,5 @@ if [ "$1" = "waf" ]; then
       --enable-tests         \
       --enable-vulkan
     python3 ./waf build
-    ./build/mpv -v --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
+    ./build_waf/mpv -v --no-config -v --unittest=all-simple
 fi