diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index 8a861ece5..546848340 100644
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class Build:
         self.cross_compilers.append(compiler)
 
     def get_project(self):
-        return self.project
+        return self.projects['']
 
     def get_targets(self):
         return self.targets
diff --git a/interpreter.py b/interpreter.py
index 6098d437d..e1e441461 100644
--- a/interpreter.py
+++ b/interpreter.py
@@ -357,9 +357,21 @@ class Test(InterpreterObject):
         return self.name
 
 class SubprojectHolder(InterpreterObject):
-    def __init(self):
+
+    def __init__(self, subinterpreter):
         super().__init__()
-        
+        self.subinterpreter = subinterpreter
+        self.methods.update({
+                             'get_variable' : self.get_variable_method,
+                             })
+
+    def get_variable_method(self, args, kwargs):
+        if len(args) != 1:
+            raise InterpreterException('Get_variable takes one argument.')
+        varname = args[0]
+        if not isinstance(varname, str):
+            raise InterpreterException('Get_variable takes a string argument.')
+        return self.subinterpreter.variables[varname]
 
 class CompilerHolder(InterpreterObject):
     def __init__(self, compiler, env):
@@ -545,8 +557,8 @@ class Interpreter():
     def __init__(self, build, subproject=''):
         self.build = build
         self.subproject = subproject
-        code = open(os.path.join(build.environment.get_source_dir(),\
-                                 subproject, environment.build_filename)).read()
+        self.source_root = os.path.join(build.environment.get_source_dir(), subproject)
+        code = open(os.path.join(self.source_root, environment.build_filename)).read()
         if len(code.strip()) == 0:
             raise InvalidCode('Builder file is empty.')
         assert(isinstance(code, str))
@@ -729,7 +741,7 @@ class Interpreter():
         self.global_flags_frozen = True
         subi = Interpreter(self.build, subdir)
         subi.run()
-        self.subprojects[dirname] = SubprojectHolder()
+        self.subprojects[dirname] = SubprojectHolder(subi)
         return self.subprojects[dirname]
 
     def func_get_option(self, nodes, args, kwargs):
@@ -1032,7 +1044,7 @@ class Interpreter():
             objs = [objs]
         if name in self.build.targets:
             raise InvalidCode('Tried to create target "%s", but a target of that name already exists.' % name)
-        self.check_sources_exist(os.path.join(self.environment.source_dir, self.subdir), sources)
+        self.check_sources_exist(os.path.join(self.source_root, self.subdir), sources)
         l = targetclass(name, self.subdir, is_cross, sources, objs, self.environment, kwargs)
         self.build.targets[name] = l.held_object
         if self.environment.is_cross_build() and l.is_cross:
@@ -1047,7 +1059,7 @@ class Interpreter():
         for s in sources:
             if not isinstance(s, str):
                 continue # This means a generated source and they always exist.
-            fname = os.path.join(subdir, s)
+            fname = os.path.join(self.subproject, subdir, s)
             if not os.path.isfile(fname):
                 raise InterpreterException('Tried to add non-existing source %s.' % s)
 
diff --git a/test cases/common/49 subproject/meson.build b/test cases/common/49 subproject/meson.build
index fcb2c2dab..18531f5a3 100644
--- a/test cases/common/49 subproject/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/49 subproject/meson.build	
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ sub = subproject('sublib')
 inc = sub.get_variable('i')
 lib = sub.get_variable('l')
 
-e = executable('user.c', include_dirs : inc, link_with : lib)
+e = executable('user', 'user.c', include_dirs : inc, link_with : lib)
 test('subdirtest', e)