diff --git a/.release-notes/4537.md b/.release-notes/4537.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..018624d079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.release-notes/4537.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+## Correctly find custom-built `llc` during build process
+
+Previously our CMake build was failing to find our custom-built `llc` binary, but builds worked by accident if there was a system `llc`.  The build system now finds our custom `llc` correctly.
diff --git a/src/libponyrt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libponyrt/CMakeLists.txt
index 22be9c5eff..f8f13fd10d 100644
--- a/src/libponyrt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libponyrt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ set(_ll_except_obj "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/except_try_catch.o")
 
 find_file(_llc_command
     NAMES llc.exe llc
-    PATHS "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/../../libs/bin" "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/../libs/bin"
+    HINTS "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/../../libs/bin" "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/../libs/bin"
 )
 
 if(${CMAKE_HOST_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Darwin")