diff --git a/examples/Makefile b/examples/Makefile
index 5f4e21d37f..e4b87d5916 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile
+++ b/examples/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-LAKE := ../build/bin/lake
+LAKE ?= ../build/bin/lake
 
 all: check-lake test time-bootstrap check-bootstrap test-bootstrapped
 
diff --git a/examples/bootstrap/check.sh b/examples/bootstrap/check.sh
index 2a6ec10525..3ce5d7fc1f 100755
--- a/examples/bootstrap/check.sh
+++ b/examples/bootstrap/check.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 set -ex
 
-./build/bin/lake --version
-./build/bin/lake self-check
+${LAKE:-./build/bin/lake} --version
+${LAKE:-./build/bin/lake} self-check
diff --git a/examples/bootstrap/package.sh b/examples/bootstrap/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/bootstrap/package.sh
+++ b/examples/bootstrap/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/deps/package.sh b/examples/deps/package.sh
index 12a114e811..2b5a67a15b 100755
--- a/examples/deps/package.sh
+++ b/examples/deps/package.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 cd foo
 echo "in directory 'foo'"
-../../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/ffi-dep/package.sh b/examples/ffi-dep/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/ffi-dep/package.sh
+++ b/examples/ffi-dep/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/ffi/package.sh b/examples/ffi/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/ffi/package.sh
+++ b/examples/ffi/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/git/package.sh b/examples/git/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/git/package.sh
+++ b/examples/git/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/hello/bootstrapped-test.sh b/examples/hello/bootstrapped-test.sh
index b643b6d40d..712ea98781 100755
--- a/examples/hello/bootstrapped-test.sh
+++ b/examples/hello/bootstrapped-test.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 ./clean.sh
-../bootstrap/build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../bootstrap/build/bin/lake} build-bin
 ./build/bin/hello
diff --git a/examples/hello/package.sh b/examples/hello/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/hello/package.sh
+++ b/examples/hello/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
diff --git a/examples/init/test.sh b/examples/init/test.sh
index 3cef006fd4..2e59ec56a0 100755
--- a/examples/init/test.sh
+++ b/examples/init/test.sh
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ set -ex
 
 # Test `new`
 
-../../build/bin/lake new helloNew
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} new helloNew
 
 cd helloNew
 test -f lean-toolchain
-../../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
 ./build/bin/helloNew
 cd ..
 
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ cd ..
 mkdir helloInit
 
 cd helloInit
-../../../build/bin/lake init helloInit
-../../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../../build/bin/lake} init helloInit
+${LAKE:-../../../build/bin/lake} build-bin
 ./build/bin/helloInit
 
 # Test `init` on existing package (should error)
 
-../../../build/bin/lake init helloInit && exit 1 || true
+${LAKE:-../../../build/bin/lake} init helloInit && exit 1 || true
diff --git a/examples/io/package.sh b/examples/io/package.sh
index f2450c6aad..d0562859f5 100755
--- a/examples/io/package.sh
+++ b/examples/io/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin -- --foo
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin -- --foo
diff --git a/examples/main/package.sh b/examples/main/package.sh
index 30624e5f25..bd64051f9d 100755
--- a/examples/main/package.sh
+++ b/examples/main/package.sh
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../build/bin/lake build-bin
+${LAKE:-../../build/bin/lake} build-bin