diff --git a/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index b5de67cf049a05..ca64e351b449ee 100644
--- a/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/check-nrfconnect-version.cmake)
 # Load NCS/Zephyr build system
 set(CONF_FILE ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/sample-defaults.conf prj.conf)
 
-if (EXISTS boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
   list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
 endif()
 
diff --git a/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index f187c196370920..67c39cc99a2016 100644
--- a/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/check-nrfconnect-version.cmake)
 # Load NCS/Zephyr build system
 set(CONF_FILE ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/sample-defaults.conf prj.conf)
 
-if (EXISTS boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
   list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
 endif()
 
diff --git a/examples/pigweed-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/pigweed-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index 361ecc1b09aaca..596336d4886eb8 100644
--- a/examples/pigweed-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/pigweed-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ endif()
 list(APPEND ZEPHYR_EXTRA_MODULES ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/chip-module)
 find_package(Zephyr HINTS $ENV{ZEPHYR_BASE})
 
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+  list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+endif()
+
 project(chip-nrf52840-pigweed-example)
 
 include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/enable-gnu-std.cmake)
diff --git a/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index e9f8574e29a53d..fa662532215fc7 100644
--- a/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/check-nrfconnect-version.cmake)
 # Load NCS/Zephyr build system
 set(CONF_FILE ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/sample-defaults.conf prj.conf)
 
-if (EXISTS boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
   list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
 endif()
 
diff --git a/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index bb5e2314f6adff..ca7eafdbf3e7f7 100644
--- a/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/check-nrfconnect-version.cmake)
 # Load NCS/Zephyr build system
 set(CONF_FILE ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/sample-defaults.conf prj.conf)
 
-if (EXISTS boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
   list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
 endif()
 
diff --git a/examples/shell/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/shell/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
index c4da56a1880efe..9940b0973bd046 100644
--- a/examples/shell/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/shell/nrfconnect/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ set(CONF_FILE ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/sample-defaults.conf prj.conf)
 list(APPEND ZEPHYR_EXTRA_MODULES ${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/chip-module)
 find_package(Zephyr HINTS $ENV{ZEPHYR_BASE})
 
+if (EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+  list(APPEND CONF_FILE boards/${BOARD}.conf)
+endif()
+
 project(chip-nrfconnect-shell-example)
 
 include(${CHIP_ROOT}/config/nrfconnect/app/enable-gnu-std.cmake)
diff --git a/scripts/build/builders/nrf.py b/scripts/build/builders/nrf.py
index 5797afd5cd62d6..a83d5fe5c98012 100644
--- a/scripts/build/builders/nrf.py
+++ b/scripts/build/builders/nrf.py
@@ -143,11 +143,6 @@ def generate(self):
                     raise Exception('ZEPHYR_BASE validation failed')
 
             overlays = []
-            project_root = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../../..")
-            if os.path.exists(os.path.join(
-                    project_root, self.app.AppPath(), "nrfconnect/boards", self.board.GnArgName()+".conf")):
-                overlays.append("-DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/" +
-                                self.board.GnArgName()+".conf")
             if self.enable_rpcs:
                 overlays.append("-DOVERLAY_CONFIG=rpc.overlay")
 
diff --git a/scripts/build/testdata/build_all_except_host.txt b/scripts/build/testdata/build_all_except_host.txt
index 59a9a82009fa99..958559020d770d 100644
--- a/scripts/build/testdata/build_all_except_host.txt
+++ b/scripts/build/testdata/build_all_except_host.txt
@@ -556,27 +556,27 @@ west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-native-posix-64-tests -b native_posix_64 {r
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-light
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-light -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-light -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-light-rpc
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-light-rpc -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.conf -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=rpc.overlay'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-light-rpc -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=rpc.overlay'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-lock
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-lock -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-lock -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-pump
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-pump -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-pump -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-pump-controller
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-pump-controller -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-pump-controller -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {root}/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dk-shell
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
@@ -586,37 +586,37 @@ west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dk-shell -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 {ro
 # Generating nrf-nrf52840dongle-light
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dongle-light -b nrf52840dongle_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf52840dongle_nrf52840.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf52840dongle-light -b nrf52840dongle_nrf52840 {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-light
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-light -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-light -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-light-rpc
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-light-rpc -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=rpc.overlay'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-light-rpc -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lighting-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=rpc.overlay'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-lock
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-lock -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-lock -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/lock-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-pump
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-pump -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-pump -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/pump-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-pump-controller
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-pump-controller -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-pump-controller -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/pump-controller-app/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating nrf-nrf5340dk-shell
 bash -c 'source "$ZEPHYR_BASE/zephyr-env.sh";
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR";
-west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-shell -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/shell/nrfconnect -- -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp.conf'
+west build --cmake-only -d {out}/nrf-nrf5340dk-shell -b nrf5340dk_nrf5340_cpuapp {root}/examples/shell/nrfconnect'
 
 # Generating qpg-qpg6100-lock
 gn gen --check --fail-on-unused-args --export-compile-commands --root={root}/examples/lock-app/qpg {out}/qpg-qpg6100-lock
diff --git a/scripts/examples/nrfconnect_example.sh b/scripts/examples/nrfconnect_example.sh
index ba5ebfeef41b4a..c3a3fa62aaf12c 100755
--- a/scripts/examples/nrfconnect_example.sh
+++ b/scripts/examples/nrfconnect_example.sh
@@ -39,9 +39,4 @@ source "../scripts/activate.sh"
 export GNUARMEMB_TOOLCHAIN_PATH="$PW_PIGWEED_CIPD_INSTALL_DIR"
 env
 
-OVERLAY_CONF_FLAGS=()
-if [[ -f "$APP/nrfconnect/boards/$BOARD.conf" ]]; then
-    OVERLAY_CONF_FLAGS+=(-DOVERLAY_CONFIG=boards/"$BOARD".conf)
-fi
-
-west build -b "$BOARD" -d "$APP/nrfconnect/build/$BOARD" "$APP/nrfconnect" -- "${OVERLAY_CONF_FLAGS[@]}" "$@"
+west build -b "$BOARD" -d "$APP/nrfconnect/build/$BOARD" "$APP/nrfconnect" -- "$@"