diff --git a/eccodes.spec b/eccodes.spec
index e592ed4..3d8d0f9 100644
--- a/eccodes.spec
+++ b/eccodes.spec
@@ -174,12 +174,12 @@ in C, and Fortran 90.
 %autosetup -n %{name}-%{version}-Source -p1
 
 # unpack the test data below build
-mkdir -p %{_vpath_builddir}
-pushd %{_vpath_builddir}
+mkdir build
+cd build
 tar xf %SOURCE1
-popd
 
 # remove executable permissions from c files
+cd ..
 chmod 644 tigge/*.c
 chmod 644 tools/*.c
 
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ chmod 644 tools/*.c
 chmod 644 AUTHORS LICENSE
 
 %build
+cd build
 
 #-- The following features are disabled by default and not switched on:
 #
@@ -230,11 +231,6 @@ chmod 644 AUTHORS LICENSE
 #     export FCFLAGS="%%{build_fflags} -fallow-argument-mismatch"
 # defining the -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS for camke is required to let it compile.
 
-# added -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS="-fPIC"
-# because the koji build crashes with the error that it needs this setting
-# when I try to build for armv7hl (other archs do not complain ......)
-# I have no idea what causes this difference in behaviour.
-
 %cmake3 -DINSTALL_LIB_DIR=%{_lib} \
         -DENABLE_ECCODES_OMP_THREADS=ON \
         -DENABLE_EXTRA_TESTS=ON \
@@ -246,7 +242,8 @@ chmod 644 AUTHORS LICENSE
         -DECCODES_SOVERSION=%{so_version} \
         -DECCODES_SOVERSION_F90=%{so_version_f90} \
         -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS="-fPIC" \
-        -DENABLE_PYTHON=OFF
+        -DENABLE_PYTHON=OFF \
+        ..
 
 # not needed anymore (solved in the cmake file now)
 #        -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS="-fallow-argument-mismatch"
@@ -254,15 +251,16 @@ chmod 644 AUTHORS LICENSE
 # note the final '..' is no longer needed to the cmake3 call.
 # this is now hidden in the %%cmake3 macro
 
-%cmake_build
+%make_build
 
 # copy some include files to the build dir
-# that are otherwise not found when creating the debugsource sub-package
-cp fortran/eccodes_constants.h %{_vpath_builddir}/fortran/
-cp fortran/grib_api_constants.h %{_vpath_builddir}/fortran/
+# that are otherwise not found when creating the debugsource subpackage
+cd ..
+cp fortran/eccodes_constants.h build/fortran/
+cp fortran/grib_api_constants.h build/fortran/
 
 %install
-%cmake_install
+%make_install -C build
 mkdir -p %{buildroot}%{_fmoddir}
 mv %{buildroot}%{_includedir}/*.mod %{buildroot}%{_fmoddir}/
 
@@ -313,7 +311,7 @@ sed -i 's|^libs=.*$|libs=-L${libdir} -leccodes_f90 -leccodes|g' %{buildroot}/%{_
 %ldconfig_scriptlets
 
 %check
-cd  %{_vpath_builddir}
+cd build
 
 # notes:
 # * the LD_LIBRARY_PATH setting is required to let the tests
@@ -323,8 +321,6 @@ cd  %{_vpath_builddir}
 #   'eccodes_t_bufr_dump_(de|en)code_C' tests run.
 #   These tests compile on the fly generated C code, and
 #   without this setting the loader does not find the libraries.
-# * this is a 'non-standard' use of ctest3 so it does currently not
-#   work with the %%ctest macro.
 
 LD_LIBRARY_PATH=%{buildroot}/%{_libdir} \
 LIBRARY_PATH=%{buildroot}/%{_libdir} \