diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d3cf251d..9c73c6e1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -24,3 +24,5 @@ first-clone-setup-fast-log
 project/.bloop/
 project/metals.sbt
 project/project/
+.ivy2
+.sbt
diff --git a/variables.mk b/variables.mk
index a89d23a0..27d9645b 100644
--- a/variables.mk
+++ b/variables.mk
@@ -222,7 +222,8 @@ SBT_CLIENT_FLAG = --client
 endif
 
 # passes $(JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS) from env to java
-SBT_BIN ?= java -jar $(ROCKETCHIP_DIR)/sbt-launch.jar
+export SBT_OPTS ?= -Dsbt.ivy.home=$(base_dir)/.ivy2 -Dsbt.global.base=$(base_dir)/.sbt -Dsbt.boot.directory=$(base_dir)/.sbt/boot/
+SBT_BIN ?= java -jar $(ROCKETCHIP_DIR)/sbt-launch.jar $(SBT_OPTS)
 SBT = $(SBT_BIN) $(SBT_CLIENT_FLAG)
 SBT_NON_THIN = $(subst $(SBT_CLIENT_FLAG),,$(SBT))