diff --git a/src/tools/kata-ctl/Makefile b/src/tools/kata-ctl/Makefile
index fbbd5c112a..23ae7ca1e7 100644
--- a/src/tools/kata-ctl/Makefile
+++ b/src/tools/kata-ctl/Makefile
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ PROJECT_URL = https://github.com/kata-containers
 PROJECT_COMPONENT = kata-ctl
 
 TARGET = $(PROJECT_COMPONENT)
+INSTALL_PATH = $(HOME)/.cargo
 
 VERSION_FILE := ./VERSION
 export VERSION := $(shell grep -v ^\# $(VERSION_FILE))
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ test:
 	@RUSTFLAGS="$(EXTRA_RUSTFLAGS) --deny warnings" cargo test --target $(TRIPLE) $(if $(findstring release,$(BUILD_TYPE)),--release) $(EXTRA_RUSTFEATURES) -- --nocapture
 
 install:
-	@RUSTFLAGS="$(EXTRA_RUSTFLAGS) --deny warnings" cargo install --locked --target $(TRIPLE) --path .
+	@RUSTFLAGS="$(EXTRA_RUSTFLAGS) --deny warnings" cargo install --locked --target $(TRIPLE) --path . --root $(INSTALL_PATH)
 
 check: standard_rust_check
 
diff --git a/src/tools/kata-ctl/README.md b/src/tools/kata-ctl/README.md
index 181e66db74..c37ab9dcd7 100644
--- a/src/tools/kata-ctl/README.md
+++ b/src/tools/kata-ctl/README.md
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ $ make
 $ make install
 ```
 
+If you would like to install the tool to a specific directory, then you can provide it through the `INSTALL_PATH` variable.
+```bash
+$ make install INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/your/custom/install/directory
+```
+
 ## Run the tool
 
 ```bash