diff --git a/docs/markdown/Dependencies.md b/docs/markdown/Dependencies.md
index a8f6d8a5d..b89a0aa32 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/Dependencies.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/Dependencies.md
@@ -288,8 +288,12 @@ You can call `dependency` multiple times with different modules and
 use those to link against your targets.
 
 If your boost headers or libraries are in non-standard locations you
-can set the BOOST_ROOT, BOOST_INCLUDEDIR, and/or BOOST_LIBRARYDIR
-environment variables.
+can set the `BOOST_ROOT`, or the `BOOST_INCLUDEDIR` and `BOOST_LIBRARYDIR`
+environment variables. *(added in 0.56.0)* You can also set these
+parameters as `boost_root`, `boost_include`, and `boost_librarydir` in your
+native or cross machine file. Note that machine file variables are
+preferred to environment variables, and that specifying any of these
+disables system-wide search for boost.
 
 You can set the argument `threading` to `single` to use boost
 libraries that have been compiled for single-threaded use instead.
diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
index 907c0c275..3ad534e48 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from .. import mlog
 from .. import mesonlib
+from ..envconfig import get_env_var
 from ..environment import Environment
 
 from .base import DependencyException, ExternalDependency, PkgConfigDependency
@@ -163,8 +164,8 @@ class BoostLibraryFile():
         if not tags:
             return
 
-        # Without any tags mt is assumed, however, an absents of mt in the name
-        # with tags present indicates that the lib was build without mt support
+        # Without any tags mt is assumed, however, an absence of mt in the name
+        # with tags present indicates that the lib was built without mt support
         self.mt = False
         for i in tags:
             if i == 'mt':
@@ -367,36 +368,27 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
         self.arch = environment.machines[self.for_machine].cpu_family
         self.arch = boost_arch_map.get(self.arch, None)
 
-        # Prefere BOOST_INCLUDEDIR and BOOST_LIBRARYDIR if preset
-        boost_manual_env = [x in os.environ for x in ['BOOST_INCLUDEDIR', 'BOOST_LIBRARYDIR']]
-        if all(boost_manual_env):
-            inc_dir = Path(os.environ['BOOST_INCLUDEDIR'])
-            lib_dir = Path(os.environ['BOOST_LIBRARYDIR'])
-            mlog.debug('Trying to find boost with:')
-            mlog.debug('  - BOOST_INCLUDEDIR = {}'.format(inc_dir))
-            mlog.debug('  - BOOST_LIBRARYDIR = {}'.format(lib_dir))
-
-            boost_inc_dir = None
-            for j in [inc_dir / 'version.hpp', inc_dir / 'boost' / 'version.hpp']:
-                if j.is_file():
-                    boost_inc_dir = self._include_dir_from_version_header(j)
-                    break
-            if not boost_inc_dir:
-                self.is_found = False
-                return
+        # First, look for paths specified in a machine file
+        props = self.env.properties[self.for_machine]
+        boost_property_env = [props.get('boost_includedir'), props.get('boost_librarydir'), props.get('boost_root')]
+        if any(boost_property_env):
+            self.detect_boost_machine_file(props)
+            return
 
-            self.is_found = self.run_check([boost_inc_dir], [lib_dir])
+        # Next, look for paths in the environment
+        boost_manual_env_list = ['BOOST_INCLUDEDIR', 'BOOST_LIBRARYDIR', 'BOOST_ROOT', 'BOOSTROOT']
+        boost_manual_env = [get_env_var(self.for_machine, self.env.is_cross_build, x) for x in boost_manual_env_list]
+        if any(boost_manual_env):
+            self.detect_boost_env()
             return
-        elif any(boost_manual_env):
-            mlog.warning('Both BOOST_INCLUDEDIR *and* BOOST_LIBRARYDIR have to be set (one is not enough). Ignoring.')
 
-        # A) Detect potential boost root directories (uses also BOOST_ROOT env var)
-        roots = self.detect_roots()
-        roots = list(mesonlib.OrderedSet(roots))
+        # Finally, look for paths from .pc files and from searching the filesystem
+        self.detect_roots()
 
-        # B) Foreach candidate
+    def check_and_set_roots(self, roots) -> None:
+        roots = list(mesonlib.OrderedSet(roots))
         for j in roots:
-            #   1. Look for the boost headers (boost/version.pp)
+            #   1. Look for the boost headers (boost/version.hpp)
             mlog.debug('Checking potential boost root {}'.format(j.as_posix()))
             inc_dirs = self.detect_inc_dirs(j)
             inc_dirs = sorted(inc_dirs, reverse=True)  # Prefer the newer versions
@@ -411,6 +403,74 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
                 self.boost_root = j
                 break
 
+    def detect_boost_machine_file(self, props) -> None:
+        incdir = props.get('boost_includedir')
+        libdir = props.get('boost_librarydir')
+
+        if incdir and libdir:
+            inc_dir = Path(props['boost_includedir'])
+            lib_dir = Path(props['boost_librarydir'])
+
+            if not inc_dir.is_absolute() or not lib_dir.is_absolute():
+                raise DependencyException('Paths given for boost_includedir and boost_librarydir in machine file must be absolute')
+
+            mlog.debug('Trying to find boost with:')
+            mlog.debug('  - boost_includedir = {}'.format(inc_dir))
+            mlog.debug('  - boost_librarydir = {}'.format(lib_dir))
+
+            return self.detect_split_root(inc_dir, lib_dir)
+
+        elif incdir or libdir:
+            raise DependencyException('Both boost_includedir *and* boost_librarydir have to be set in your machine file (one is not enough)')
+
+        rootdir = props.get('boost_root')
+        # It shouldn't be possible to get here without something in boost_root
+        assert(rootdir)
+
+        raw_paths = mesonlib.stringlistify(rootdir)
+        paths = [Path(x) for x in raw_paths]
+        if paths and any([not x.is_absolute() for x in paths]):
+            raise DependencyException('boost_root path given in machine file must be absolute')
+
+        self.check_and_set_roots(paths)
+
+    def detect_boost_env(self):
+        boost_includedir = get_env_var(self.for_machine, self.env.is_cross_build, 'BOOST_INCLUDEDIR')
+        boost_librarydir = get_env_var(self.for_machine, self.env.is_cross_build, 'BOOST_LIBRARYDIR')
+
+        boost_manual_env = [boost_includedir, boost_librarydir]
+        if all(boost_manual_env):
+            inc_dir = Path(boost_includedir)
+            lib_dir = Path(boost_librarydir)
+
+            if not inc_dir.is_absolute() or not lib_dir.is_absolute():
+                raise DependencyException('Paths given in BOOST_INCLUDEDIR and BOOST_LIBRARYDIR must be absolute')
+
+            mlog.debug('Trying to find boost with:')
+            mlog.debug('  - BOOST_INCLUDEDIR = {}'.format(inc_dir))
+            mlog.debug('  - BOOST_LIBRARYDIR = {}'.format(lib_dir))
+
+            return self.detect_split_root(inc_dir, lib_dir)
+
+        elif any(boost_manual_env):
+            raise DependencyException('Both BOOST_INCLUDEDIR *and* BOOST_LIBRARYDIR have to be set (one is not enough). Ignoring.')
+
+        boost_root = get_env_var(self.for_machine, self.env.is_cross_build, 'BOOST_ROOT')
+        boostroot = get_env_var(self.for_machine, self.env.is_cross_build, 'BOOSTROOT')
+
+        # It shouldn't be possible to get here without something in BOOST_ROOT or BOOSTROOT
+        assert(boost_root or boostroot)
+
+        for path, name in [(boost_root, 'BOOST_ROOT'), (boostroot, 'BOOSTROOT')]:
+            if path:
+                raw_paths = path.split(os.pathsep)
+                paths = [Path(x) for x in raw_paths]
+                if paths and any([not x.is_absolute() for x in paths]):
+                    raise DependencyException('Paths in {} must be absolute'.format(name))
+                break
+
+        self.check_and_set_roots(paths)
+
     def run_check(self, inc_dirs: T.List[BoostIncludeDir], lib_dirs: T.List[Path]) -> bool:
         mlog.debug('  - potential library dirs: {}'.format([x.as_posix() for x in lib_dirs]))
         mlog.debug('  - potential include dirs: {}'.format([x.path.as_posix() for x in inc_dirs]))
@@ -560,6 +620,12 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
         except (KeyError, IndexError, AttributeError):
             pass
 
+        # mlog.debug('    - static: {}'.format(self.static))
+        # mlog.debug('    - not explicit static: {}'.format(not self.explicit_static))
+        # mlog.debug('    - mt: {}'.format(self.multithreading))
+        # mlog.debug('    - version: {}'.format(lib_vers))
+        # mlog.debug('    - arch: {}'.format(self.arch))
+        # mlog.debug('    - vscrt: {}'.format(vscrt))
         libs = [x for x in libs if x.static == self.static or not self.explicit_static]
         libs = [x for x in libs if x.mt == self.multithreading]
         libs = [x for x in libs if x.version_matches(lib_vers)]
@@ -592,20 +658,22 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
             libs += [BoostLibraryFile(i)]
         return [x for x in libs if x.is_boost()]  # Filter out no boost libraries
 
-    def detect_roots(self) -> T.List[Path]:
-        roots = []  # type: T.List[Path]
+    def detect_split_root(self, inc_dir, lib_dir) -> None:
+        boost_inc_dir = None
+        for j in [inc_dir / 'version.hpp', inc_dir / 'boost' / 'version.hpp']:
+            if j.is_file():
+                boost_inc_dir = self._include_dir_from_version_header(j)
+                break
+        if not boost_inc_dir:
+            self.is_found = False
+            return
 
-        # Add roots from the environment
-        for i in ['BOOST_ROOT', 'BOOSTROOT']:
-            if i in os.environ:
-                raw_paths = os.environ[i].split(os.pathsep)
-                paths = [Path(x) for x in raw_paths]
-                if paths and any([not x.is_absolute() for x in paths]):
-                    raise DependencyException('Paths in {} must be absolute'.format(i))
-                roots += paths
-                return roots  # Do not add system paths if BOOST_ROOT is present
+        self.is_found = self.run_check([boost_inc_dir], [lib_dir])
+
+    def detect_roots(self) -> None:
+        roots = []  # type: T.List[Path]
 
-        # Try getting the BOOST_ROOT from a boost.pc if it exists. This primarely
+        # Try getting the BOOST_ROOT from a boost.pc if it exists. This primarily
         # allows BoostDependency to find boost from Conan. See #5438
         try:
             boost_pc = PkgConfigDependency('boost', self.env, {'required': False})
@@ -660,7 +728,7 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
             tmp = [x.resolve() for x in tmp]
             roots += tmp
 
-        return roots
+        self.check_and_set_roots(roots)
 
     def log_details(self) -> str:
         res = ''
diff --git a/run_project_tests.py b/run_project_tests.py
index 793c844e7..0f0bc4e58 100755
--- a/run_project_tests.py
+++ b/run_project_tests.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from mesonbuild import compilers
 from mesonbuild import mesonlib
 from mesonbuild import mlog
 from mesonbuild import mtest
+from mesonbuild.build import ConfigurationData
 from mesonbuild.mesonlib import MachineChoice, Popen_safe
 from mesonbuild.coredata import backendlist, version as meson_version
 
@@ -475,6 +476,28 @@ def create_deterministic_builddir(test: TestDef, use_tmpdir: bool) -> str:
     os.mkdir(abs_pathname)
     return abs_pathname
 
+def format_parameter_file(file_basename: str, test: TestDef, test_build_dir: str) -> Path:
+    confdata = ConfigurationData()
+    confdata.values = {'MESON_TEST_ROOT': (str(test.path.absolute()), 'base directory of current test')}
+
+    template = test.path / (file_basename + '.in')
+    destination = Path(test_build_dir) / file_basename
+    mesonlib.do_conf_file(str(template), str(destination), confdata, 'meson')
+
+    return destination
+
+def detect_parameter_files(test: TestDef, test_build_dir: str) -> (Path, Path):
+    nativefile = test.path / 'nativefile.ini'
+    crossfile = test.path / 'crossfile.ini'
+
+    if os.path.exists(str(test.path / 'nativefile.ini.in')):
+        nativefile = format_parameter_file('nativefile.ini', test, test_build_dir)
+
+    if os.path.exists(str(test.path / 'crossfile.ini.in')):
+        crossfile = format_parameter_file('crossfile.ini', test, test_build_dir)
+
+    return nativefile, crossfile
+
 def run_test(test: TestDef, extra_args, compiler, backend, flags, commands, should_fail, use_tmp: bool):
     if test.skip:
         return None
@@ -497,8 +520,9 @@ def _run_test(test: TestDef, test_build_dir: str, install_dir: str, extra_args,
     if 'libdir' not in test.do_not_set_opts:
         gen_args += ['--libdir', 'lib']
     gen_args += [test.path.as_posix(), test_build_dir] + flags + extra_args
-    nativefile = test.path / 'nativefile.ini'
-    crossfile = test.path / 'crossfile.ini'
+
+    nativefile, crossfile = detect_parameter_files(test, test_build_dir)
+
     if nativefile.exists():
         gen_args.extend(['--native-file', nativefile.as_posix()])
     if crossfile.exists():
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/include/boost/version.hpp b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/include/boost/version.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65e4fab96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/include/boost/version.hpp	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#define BOOST_VERSION 100
+
+#error This is not a real version of boost
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x32-0_1.lib b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x32-0_1.lib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x64-0_1.lib b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x64-0_1.lib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/libboost_regex.so.0.1.0 b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/boost/lib/libboost_regex.so.0.1.0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50d2f0d7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+project('boosttest', 'cpp')
+
+dep = dependency('boost', modules : 'regex', required: false)
+
+assert(dep.found(), 'expected to find a fake version of boost')
+assert(dep.version() == '0.1.0', 'expected to find version 0.1.0')
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/nativefile.ini.in b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/nativefile.ini.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54510d7e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/32 boost root/nativefile.ini.in	
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[properties]
+boost_root = '@MESON_TEST_ROOT@/boost'
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/extra-dir/include/boost/version.hpp b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/extra-dir/include/boost/version.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ba19ee5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/extra-dir/include/boost/version.hpp	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#define BOOST_VERSION 200
+
+#error This is not a real version of boost
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x32-0_2.lib b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x32-0_2.lib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x64-0_2.lib b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/boost_regex-vc142-mt-gd-x64-0_2.lib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/libboost_regex.so.0.2.0 b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/boost/lib/libboost_regex.so.0.2.0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2353bb15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+project('boosttest', 'cpp')
+
+dep = dependency('boost', modules : 'regex', required: false)
+
+assert(dep.found(), 'expected to find a fake version of boost')
+assert(dep.version() == '0.2.0', 'expected to find version 0.2.0')
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/nativefile.ini.in b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/nativefile.ini.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7bd5ac2e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/33 boost split root/nativefile.ini.in	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[properties]
+boost_includedir = '@MESON_TEST_ROOT@/boost/extra-dir/include'
+boost_librarydir = '@MESON_TEST_ROOT@/boost/lib'