diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4778e0bbaf..b88b55783a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ include_directories(${CONFIG_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 pkg_search_module(CRYPTO libcrypto REQUIRED)
 include_directories(${CRYPTO_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
+# Check if asn1c is installed, and check if it supports all options we need
+# a user can provide ASN1C_EXEC to override an asn1c to use (e.g., parallel
+# installation)
+find_program(ASN1C_EXEC_PATH asn1c)
+set(ASN1C_EXEC ${ASN1C_EXEC_PATH} CACHE FILEPATH "path to asn1c executable")
+check_option(${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER ASN1C_EXEC)
+check_option(${ASN1C_EXEC} -no-gen-UPER ASN1C_EXEC)
+check_option(${ASN1C_EXEC} -no-gen-JER ASN1C_EXEC)
+check_option(${ASN1C_EXEC} -no-gen-BER ASN1C_EXEC)
+check_option(${ASN1C_EXEC} -no-gen-OER ASN1C_EXEC)
+
 #uhd 4.0 and iris installs by default in /usr/local
 include_directories("/usr/local/include/")
 #use native cmake method as this package is not in pkg-config
diff --git a/cmake_targets/macros.cmake b/cmake_targets/macros.cmake
index c794affa26..25ba5cb2b8 100644
--- a/cmake_targets/macros.cmake
+++ b/cmake_targets/macros.cmake
@@ -89,3 +89,21 @@ macro(eval_boolean VARIABLE)
     set(${VARIABLE} OFF)
   endif()
 endmacro()
+
+function(check_option EXEC TEST_OPTION EXEC_HINT)
+  message(STATUS "Check if ${EXEC} supports ${TEST_OPTION}")
+  execute_process(COMMAND ${EXEC} ${TEST_OPTION}
+                  RESULT_VARIABLE CHECK_STATUS
+                  OUTPUT_VARIABLE CHECK_OUTPUT
+                  ERROR_VARIABLE CHECK_OUTPUT)
+  if(NOT ${CHECK_STATUS} EQUAL 1)
+    get_filename_component(EXEC_FILE ${EXEC} NAME)
+    message(FATAL_ERROR "Error message: ${CHECK_OUTPUT}\
+You might want to re-run ./build_oai -I
+Or provide a path to ${EXEC_FILE} using
+  ./build_oai ... --cmake-opt -D${EXEC_HINT}=/path/to/${EXEC_FILE}
+or directly with
+  cmake .. -D${EXEC_HINT}=/path/to/${EXEC_FILE}
+")
+  endif()
+endfunction()
diff --git a/openair2/E1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/E1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 3226e607f3..0657740e93 100644
--- a/openair2/E1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/E1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${e1ap_source} ${e1ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=E1AP_ asn1c -gen-APER -gen-UPER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-OER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${E1AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=E1AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -gen-UPER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-OER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${E1AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${E1AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating E1AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${E1AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair2/F1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/F1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 95bbbf5914..2b17d09ddd 100644
--- a/openair2/F1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/F1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${f1ap_source} ${f1ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=F1AP_ asn1c -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${F1AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=F1AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${F1AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${F1AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating F1AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${F1AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair2/M2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/M2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 57d454e82d..2142655ac2 100644
--- a/openair2/M2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/M2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${m2ap_source} ${m2ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=M2AP_ asn1c -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M2AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=M2AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M2AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M2AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating M2AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M2AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 3af4af5e8b..da667e9b2e 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${lte_rrc_source} ${lte_rrc_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=LTE_ asn1c -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -no-gen-example -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LTE_RRC_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=LTE_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -no-gen-example -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LTE_RRC_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LTE_RRC_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating LTE RRC source file from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LTE_RRC_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/RRC/NR/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index e2f60ae615..c1982d8a37 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${nr_rrc_source} ${nr_rrc_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NR_ asn1c -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NR_RRC_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NR_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NR_RRC_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NR_RRC_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating NR RRC source file from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NR_RRC_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair2/X2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair2/X2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 8b4281a240..679ab8aca2 100644
--- a/openair2/X2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair2/X2AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${x2ap_source} ${x2ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=X2AP_ asn1c -pdu=all -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${X2AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=X2AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -pdu=all -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${X2AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${X2AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating X2AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${X2AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair3/LPP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair3/LPP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 18cbc8ba16..0ffdf87113 100644
--- a/openair3/LPP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair3/LPP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ include(ASN1/37355-g60.cmake)
 #endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${lpp_source} ${lpp_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=LPP_ asn1c -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LPP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=LPP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-UPER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-APER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LPP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LPP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating LPP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${LPP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair3/M3AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair3/M3AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index cc53d3820b..8b5512919d 100644
--- a/openair3/M3AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair3/M3AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${m3ap_source} ${m3ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=M3AP_ asn1c -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M3AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=M3AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M3AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M3AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating M3AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${M3AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair3/NGAP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair3/NGAP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 4b8db2efc0..06148b6c5a 100644
--- a/openair3/NGAP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair3/NGAP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${ngap_source} ${ngap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NGAP_ asn1c -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -findirect-choice -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NGAP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NGAP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -pdu=all -fcompound-names -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -findirect-choice -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NGAP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NGAP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating NGAP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NGAP_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair3/NRPPA/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair3/NRPPA/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 2b7119bcc4..840553a62d 100644
--- a/openair3/NRPPA/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair3/NRPPA/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ include(ASN1/38455.cmake)
 #endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${nrppa_source} ${nrppa_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NRPPA_ asn1c -gen-APER -gen-UPER -no-gen-OER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NRPPA_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=NRPPA_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -gen-UPER -no-gen-OER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -findirect-choice -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NRPPA_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NRPPA_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating NRPPA source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${NRPPA_GRAMMAR}"
 )
diff --git a/openair3/S1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt b/openair3/S1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
index 4369b487b7..bb1526b659 100644
--- a/openair3/S1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openair3/S1AP/MESSAGES/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${s1ap_source} ${s1ap_headers}
-  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=S1AP_ asn1c -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${S1AP_GRAMMAR}
+  COMMAND ASN1C_PREFIX=S1AP_ ${ASN1C_EXEC} -gen-APER -no-gen-BER -no-gen-JER -no-gen-OER -gen-UPER -fcompound-names -no-gen-example -fno-include-deps -D ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${S1AP_GRAMMAR}
   DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${S1AP_GRAMMAR}
   COMMENT "Generating S1AP source files from ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${S1AP_GRAMMAR}"
 )