diff --git a/package/pkg-cmake.mk b/package/pkg-cmake.mk
index a84aa0b302..56a93c70ac 100644
--- a/package/pkg-cmake.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-cmake.mk
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ define $(2)_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 		-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="/usr" \
 		-DCMAKE_COLOR_MAKEFILE=OFF \
 		-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=$(if $(BR2_PREFER_STATIC_LIB),OFF,ON) \
+		-DUSE_CCACHE=$(if $(BR2_CCACHE),ON,OFF) \
 		$$($$(PKG)_CONF_OPT) \
 	)
 endef
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ define $(2)_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 		-DCMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY="BOTH" \
 		-DCMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE="BOTH" \
 		-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$$(HOST_DIR)/usr" \
+		-DUSE_CCACHE=$(if $(BR2_CCACHE),ON,OFF) \
 		$$($$(PKG)_CONF_OPT) \
 	)
 endef
diff --git a/support/misc/toolchainfile.cmake.in b/support/misc/toolchainfile.cmake.in
index 27a0af1e8e..46ed9324cd 100644
--- a/support/misc/toolchainfile.cmake.in
+++ b/support/misc/toolchainfile.cmake.in
@@ -23,5 +23,34 @@ set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
 set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
 set(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR} "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@STAGING_SUBDIR@@")
 
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CXX_NOCCACHE@@")
+# This toolchain file can be used both inside and outside Buildroot.
+# * When used inside Buildroot, ccache support is explicitly driven using the
+#   USE_CCACHE variable.
+# * When used outside Buildroot (i.e. when USE_CCACHE is not defined), ccache
+#   support is automatically enabled if the ccache program is available.
+if(DEFINED USE_CCACHE)
+	if(USE_CCACHE)
+		set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/usr/bin/ccache")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/usr/bin/ccache")
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ARG1 "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ARG1 "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CXX_NOCCACHE@@")
+	else()
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CXX_NOCCACHE@@")
+	endif()
+else()
+	find_program(CCACHE ccache HINTS "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/usr/bin")
+	if(CCACHE)
+		set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "${CCACHE}")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "${CCACHE}")
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ARG1 "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ARG1 "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CXX_NOCCACHE@@")
+		message(STATUS "ccache program has been found and will be used for the build.")
+		message(STATUS "  To disable ccache, add -DUSE_CCACHE=OFF on the cmake command line.")
+	else()
+		set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CC_NOCCACHE@@")
+		set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "${RELOCATED_HOST_DIR}/@@TARGET_CXX_NOCCACHE@@")
+	endif()
+endif()