diff --git a/src/cmake/thirdparty/SetupRAJA.cmake b/src/cmake/thirdparty/SetupRAJA.cmake
index 4026f98d..92c92635 100644
--- a/src/cmake/thirdparty/SetupRAJA.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/thirdparty/SetupRAJA.cmake
@@ -12,9 +12,12 @@ set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH)
 if(EXISTS ${RAJA_DIR}/share/raja/cmake)
   # old install layout
   set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR}/share/raja/cmake)
-else()
+elseif(EXISTS ${RAJA_DIR}/lib/cmake/raja)
   # new install layout
   set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR}/lib/cmake/raja)
+else ()
+  # try RAJA_DIR itself
+  set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR})
 endif()
 
 message(STATUS "Looking for RAJA in: ${RAJA_DIR}")
diff --git a/src/config/ascent_setup_deps.cmake b/src/config/ascent_setup_deps.cmake
index 5839a03f..fd82b979 100644
--- a/src/config/ascent_setup_deps.cmake
+++ b/src/config/ascent_setup_deps.cmake
@@ -218,11 +218,14 @@ if(RAJA_DIR)
     if(EXISTS ${RAJA_DIR}/share/raja/cmake)
       # old install layout
       set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR}/share/raja/cmake)
-    else()
+    elseif(EXISTS ${RAJA_DIR}/lib/cmake/raja)
       # new install layout
       set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR}/lib/cmake/raja)
+    else ()
+      # try RAJA_DIR itself
+      set(_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH ${RAJA_DIR})
     endif()
-    
+
     if(NOT EXISTS ${_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH})
         message(FATAL_ERROR "Could not find RAJA CMake include file (${_RAJA_SEARCH_PATH})")
     endif()