diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 99c2b56a47..8864c9d113 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -388,6 +388,21 @@ This warning is only important for BOUT++ developers and can otherwise be \
 safely ignored.")
 endif()
 
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
+
+# use, i.e. don't skip the full RPATH for the build tree
+set(CMAKE_SKIP_BUILD_RPATH FALSE)
+
+# when building, don't use the install RPATH already
+# (but later on when installing)
+set(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_RPATH FALSE)
+set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+
+# add the automatically determined parts of the RPATH
+# which point to directories outside the build tree to the install RPATH
+set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE)
+
+
 execute_process(COMMAND ${Python3_EXECUTABLE} -c "import site ; print('/'.join(site.getusersitepackages().split('/')[-2:]))"
   RESULT_VARIABLE PYTHON_WORKING
   OUTPUT_VARIABLE PYTHON_SITEPATH_SUFFIX
@@ -411,6 +426,7 @@ add_custom_command(
   MAIN_DEPENDENCY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/cmake/GenerateDateTimeFile.cmake"
   )
 
+
 add_library(bout++
   ${BOUT_SOURCES}
   ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bout++-time.cxx
@@ -672,9 +688,6 @@ endif()
 ##################################################
 # L10N: localisation - include translations
 
-
-include(GNUInstallDirs)
-
 find_package(Gettext)
 
 if (GETTEXT_FOUND)
@@ -746,8 +759,12 @@ else()
   set(CONFIG_LDFLAGS "${CONFIG_LDFLAGS}")
 endif()
 
+set(ISINSTALLED "FALSE")
+
 # This version of the file allows the build directory to be used directly
 configure_file(bin/bout-config.in bin/bout-config @ONLY)
+configure_file(tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py @ONLY)
+configure_file(bout++Config.cmake.in bout++Config.cmake @ONLY)
 
 # We need to generate a separate version for installation, with the
 # correct install paths. So first we need to replace the build
@@ -755,6 +772,7 @@ configure_file(bin/bout-config.in bin/bout-config @ONLY)
 string(REPLACE
   "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/lib" "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}"
   CONFIG_LDFLAGS "${CONFIG_LDFLAGS}")
+set(BOUT_LIB_PATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
 # Update mpark.variant and fmt include paths if we're building them
 if (NOT BOUT_USE_SYSTEM_MPARK_VARIANT)
   set(MPARK_VARIANT_INCLUDE_PATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
@@ -766,8 +784,13 @@ set(BOUT_INCLUDE_PATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
 # We don't need the build include path any more
 string(REPLACE "-I${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include" "" CONFIG_CFLAGS "${CONFIG_CFLAGS}")
 
+set(PYTHONCONFIGPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_SITEARCH}")
+set(ISINSTALLED "TRUE")
+
 # This version now has the correct paths to use the final installation
 configure_file(bin/bout-config.in bin/bout-config-install @ONLY)
+configure_file(tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py-install @ONLY)
+configure_file(bout++Config.cmake.in bout++Config.cmake-install @ONLY)
 
 ##################################################
 # Installation
@@ -804,6 +827,12 @@ install(PROGRAMS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bin/bout-config-install"
   RENAME "bout-config"
   )
 
+install(
+  FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py-install"
+  DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_SITEARCH}/boutconfig"
+  RENAME "__init__.py"
+  )
+
 include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)
 write_basic_package_version_file(
   bout++ConfigVersion.cmake
@@ -817,14 +846,9 @@ install(EXPORT bout++Targets
   DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/bout++"
   )
 
-configure_package_config_file(bout++Config.cmake.in bout++Config.cmake
-  INSTALL_DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bout++Config.cmake"
-  )
-
 # CMake configuration files
 install(
   FILES
-      "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bout++Config.cmake"
       "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bout++ConfigVersion.cmake"
       "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/BOUT++functions.cmake"
       "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/CorrectWindowsPaths.cmake"
@@ -843,14 +867,11 @@ install(
       "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/ResolveCompilerPaths.cmake"
   DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/bout++"
   )
-
-configure_package_config_file(tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py
-  INSTALL_DESTINATION "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py"
-  )
-
 install(
-  FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py"
-  DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_SITEARCH}/boutconfig"
+  FILES
+      "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/bout++Config.cmake-install"
+  DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/bout++"
+  RENAME "bout++Config.cmake"
   )
 
 export(EXPORT bout++Targets
diff --git a/bout++Config.cmake.in b/bout++Config.cmake.in
index cb4a993326..e33e950e6f 100644
--- a/bout++Config.cmake.in
+++ b/bout++Config.cmake.in
@@ -30,21 +30,28 @@ set(BOUT_HAS_RAJA @BOUT_HAS_RAJA@)
 
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}")
 
-# Enables the use of the build directory directly, without having to
-# specify the paths for the external packages as well
-if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/fmt")
-  list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/fmt")
-endif()
-if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/mpark.variant")
-  list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/mpark.variant")
-endif()
-if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/PVODE")
-  list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/PVODE")
-endif()
+if(NOT "@ISINSTALLED@")
+  # Enables the use of the build directory directly, without having to
+  # specify the paths for the external packages as well
+  if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/fmt")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/fmt")
+  endif()
+  if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/mpark.variant")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/mpark.variant")
+  endif()
+  if(EXISTS "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/PVODE")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/externalpackages/PVODE")
+  endif()
 
-# If using the build directory directly, we need the CMake modules too
-if(EXISTS "@PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR@/cmake")
-  list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "@PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR@/cmake")
+  # If using the build directory directly, we need the CMake modules too
+  if(EXISTS "@PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR@/cmake")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "@PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR@/cmake")
+  endif()
+else()
+  if(EXISTS "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/ ")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+  endif()
 endif()
 
 include(BOUT++functions)
diff --git a/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin b/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin
index fea7ec95ef..bb1bad6fd8 100644
--- a/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin
+++ b/tools/pylib/boutconfig/__init__.py.cin
@@ -3,19 +3,18 @@
 """
 # Created by cmake
 _yesno = {"TRUE": True, "ON": True, "FALSE": False, "OFF": False}
-_iyesno = {True: "yes", False: "no"}
 
 config = {
     "cc": "@CMAKE_C_COMPILER@",
     "cxx": "@CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER@",
     "ld": "@CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER@",
     "checks": "@BOUT_CHECK_LEVEL@",
-    "cflags": "@BOUT_CFLAGS@",
-    "libs": "@BOUT_LIBS@",
+    "cflags": "@CONFIG_CFLAGS@",
+    "libs": "@CONFIG_LIBS@",
     "version": "@BOUT_VERSION@",
     "git": "@BOUT_REVISION@",
     "idlpath": "@IDLCONFIGPATH@",
-    "pythonpath": "@BOUT_PYTHONPATH@",
+    "pythonpath": "@PYTHONCONFIGPATH@",
     "has_netcdf": "@BOUT_HAS_NETCDF@",
     "has_legacy_netcdf": "@BOUT_HAS_LEGACY_NETCDF@",
     "has_pnetcdf": "OFF",
@@ -34,6 +33,19 @@ config = {
     "metric_type": "@BOUT_METRIC_TYPE@",
 }
 
+for k, v in config.items():
+    config[k] = (
+        v.replace(
+            "${BOUT_INCLUDE_PATH}", "@BOUT_INCLUDE_PATH@"
+        )
+        .replace(
+            "${MPARK_VARIANT_INCLUDE_PATH}", "@MPARK_VARIANT_INCLUDE_PATH@"
+        )
+        .replace(
+            "${FMT_INCLUDE_PATH}", "@FMT_INCLUDE_PATH@"
+        )
+    )
+
 
 """Get a dict of the enabled features"""
 has = {}