diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a781a44..8ac65c8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# [Kotlin](https://kotlinlang.org/) Extension for [b<span style="color:orange">l</span>d](https://rife2.com/bld) 
+# [Kotlin](https://kotlinlang.org/) Extension for [b<span style="color:orange">l</span>d](https://rife2.com/bld)
 
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-Apache%20License%202.0-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
 [![Java](https://img.shields.io/badge/java-17%2B-blue)](https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk17-archive-downloads.html)
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 [![Snapshot](https://flat.badgen.net/maven/v/metadata-url/repo.rife2.com/snapshots/com/uwyn/rife2/bld-kotlin/maven-metadata.xml?label=snapshot)](https://repo.rife2.com/#/snapshots/com/uwyn/rife2/bld-kotlin)
 [![GitHub CI](https://github.com/rife2/bld-kotlin/actions/workflows/bld.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/rife2/bld-kotlin/actions/workflows/bld.yml)
 
-To install, please refer to the [extensions](https://github.com/rife2/bld/wiki/Extensions) and [support](https://github.com/rife2/bld/wiki/Kotlin-Support)
+To install, please refer to the [extensions](https://github.com/rife2/bld/wiki/Extensions)
+and [support](https://github.com/rife2/bld/wiki/Kotlin-Support)
 documentation.
 
 ## Compile Kotlin Source Code
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ documentation.
 To compile the source code located in `src/main/kotlin` and `src/test/kotlin` from the current project:
 
 ```java
+
 @BuildCommand(summary = "Compiles the Kotlin project")
 public void compile() throws Exception {
     new CompileKotlinOperation()
@@ -30,16 +32,18 @@ public void compile() throws Exception {
 
 - [View Examples Project](https://github.com/rife2/bld-kotlin/tree/main/examples/)
 
-Please check the [Compile Operation documentation](https://rife2.github.io/bld-kotlin/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.html#method-summary)
+Please check
+the [Compile Operation documentation](https://rife2.github.io/bld-kotlin/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.html#method-summary)
 for all available configuration options.
 
 ## Kotlin Compiler Requirement
 
-Please make sure Kotlin is installed and that the `KOTLIN_HOME` environment variable is set.
+Please make sure the Kotlin compiler is [installed](https://kotlinlang.org/docs/command-line.html#install-the-compiler).
 
 You can also manually configure the Kotlin home location as follows:
 
 ```java
+
 @BuildCommand(summary = "Compiles the Kotlin project")
 public void compile() throws Exception {
     new CompileKotlinOperation()
@@ -49,8 +53,23 @@ public void compile() throws Exception {
 }
 ```
 
-While older version of Kotlin are likely working with the extension, only version 1.9.24 or higher are officially supported.
+The Kotlin compiler executable can also be specified directly:
+
+```java
+
+@BuildCommand(summary = "Compiles the Kotlin project")
+public void compile() throws Exception {
+    new CompileKotlinOperation()
+            .fromProject(this)
+            .kotlinc("/usr/bin/kotlinc")
+            .execute();
+}
+```
+
+While older version of Kotlin are likely working with the extension, only version 1.9.24 or higher are officially
+supported.
 
 ## Template Project
 
-There is also a [Template Project](https://github.com/rife2/kotlin-bld-example) with support for the [Dokka](https://github.com/rife2/bld-dokka) and [Detekt](https://github.com/rife2/bld-detekt) extensions.
+There is also a [Template Project](https://github.com/rife2/kotlin-bld-example) with support for
+the [Dokka](https://github.com/rife2/bld-dokka) and [Detekt](https://github.com/rife2/bld-detekt) extensions.
diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
index 220d440..a029909 100644
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Kotlin installed
-- `KOTLIN_HOME` environment variable set
\ No newline at end of file
+- A Kotlin compiler must be [installed](https://kotlinlang.org/docs/command-line.html#install-the-compiler).
diff --git a/examples/src/bld/java/com/example/ExampleBuild.java b/examples/src/bld/java/com/example/ExampleBuild.java
index da2b49a..b8bd68a 100644
--- a/examples/src/bld/java/com/example/ExampleBuild.java
+++ b/examples/src/bld/java/com/example/ExampleBuild.java
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import rife.bld.Project;
 import rife.bld.extension.CompileKotlinOperation;
 
 import java.io.File;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler;
 import java.util.logging.Level;
@@ -43,14 +42,14 @@ public class ExampleBuild extends Project {
 
     public static void main(String[] args) {
         // Enable detailed logging for the Kotlin extension
-       var level = Level.ALL;
-       var logger = Logger.getLogger("rife.bld.extension");
-       var consoleHandler = new ConsoleHandler();
+        var level = Level.ALL;
+        var logger = Logger.getLogger("rife.bld.extension");
+        var consoleHandler = new ConsoleHandler();
 
-       consoleHandler.setLevel(level);
-       logger.addHandler(consoleHandler);
-       logger.setLevel(level);
-       logger.setUseParentHandlers(false);
+        consoleHandler.setLevel(level);
+        logger.addHandler(consoleHandler);
+        logger.setLevel(level);
+        logger.setUseParentHandlers(false);
 
         new ExampleBuild().start(args);
     }
@@ -61,6 +60,8 @@ public class ExampleBuild extends Project {
         // The source code located in src/main/kotlin and src/test/kotlin will be compiled
         new CompileKotlinOperation()
                 .fromProject(this)
+//                .kotlinHome("path/to/kotlin")
+//                .kotlinc("path/to/kotlinc")
                 .execute();
 
 //        var op = new CompileKotlinOperation().fromProject(this);
diff --git a/src/main/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.java b/src/main/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.java
index 3b184ee..e97cd31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.java
+++ b/src/main/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperation.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
     private File buildTestDirectory_;
     private CompileOptions compileOptions_ = new CompileOptions();
     private File kotlinHome_;
+    private File kotlinc_;
     private BaseProject project_;
     private File workDir_;
 
@@ -205,13 +206,6 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
             throw new ExitStatusException(ExitStatusException.EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
 
-        if (kotlinHome_ == null) {
-            if (LOGGER.isLoggable(Level.SEVERE) && !silent()) {
-                LOGGER.severe("The KOTLIN_HOME environment variable is not set.");
-            }
-            throw new ExitStatusException(ExitStatusException.EXIT_FAILURE);
-        }
-
         executeCreateBuildDirectories();
         executeBuildMainSources();
         executeBuildTestSources();
@@ -227,7 +221,7 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
      * @throws ExitStatusException if an error occurs
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("PMD.SystemPrintln")
-    protected void executeBuildMainSources() throws ExitStatusException, IOException, InterruptedException {
+    protected void executeBuildMainSources() throws ExitStatusException {
         if (!silent()) {
             System.out.println("Compiling Kotlin main sources.");
         }
@@ -248,62 +242,61 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
      * @param friendPaths the output directory for friendly modules
      * @throws ExitStatusException if an error occurs
      */
+    @SuppressWarnings("PMD.PreserveStackTrace")
     protected void executeBuildSources(Collection<String> classpath, Collection<File> sources, File destination,
                                        File friendPaths)
-            throws ExitStatusException, InterruptedException, IOException {
+            throws ExitStatusException {
         if (sources.isEmpty() || destination == null) {
             return;
         }
 
-        var kotlinc = Path.of(kotlinHome_.getAbsolutePath(), "bin", "kotlinc").toFile();
+        var args = new ArrayList<String>();
 
-        if (kotlinc.exists() && kotlinc.canExecute()) {
-            var args = new ArrayList<String>();
+        // kotlinc
+        args.add(kotlinCompiler());
 
-            // kotlinc
-            args.add(kotlinc.getAbsolutePath());
+        // classpath
+        args.add("-cp");
+        args.add(FileUtils.joinPaths(classpath.stream().toList()));
 
-            // classpath
-            args.add("-cp");
-            args.add(FileUtils.joinPaths(classpath.stream().toList()));
+        // destination
+        args.add("-d");
+        args.add(destination.getAbsolutePath());
 
-            // destination
-            args.add("-d");
-            args.add(destination.getAbsolutePath());
+        // friend-path
+        if (friendPaths != null && friendPaths.exists()) {
+            args.add("-Xfriend-paths=" + friendPaths.getAbsolutePath());
+        }
 
-            // friend-path
-            if (friendPaths != null && friendPaths.exists()) {
-                args.add("-Xfriend-paths=" + friendPaths.getAbsolutePath());
-            }
+        // options
+        if (compileOptions_ != null) {
+            args.addAll(compileOptions_.args());
+        }
 
-            // options
-            if (compileOptions_ != null) {
-                args.addAll(compileOptions_.args());
-            }
+        // plugins
+        if (!plugins_.isEmpty()) {
+            plugins_.forEach(p -> args.add("-Xplugin=" + p));
+        }
 
-            // plugins
-            if (!plugins_.isEmpty()) {
-                plugins_.forEach(p -> args.add("-Xplugin=" + p));
-            }
+        // sources
+        sources.forEach(f -> args.add(f.getAbsolutePath()));
 
-            // sources
-            sources.forEach(f -> args.add(f.getAbsolutePath()));
+        if (LOGGER.isLoggable(Level.FINE) && !silent()) {
+            LOGGER.fine(String.join(" ", args));
+        }
 
-            if (LOGGER.isLoggable(Level.FINE) && !silent()) {
-                LOGGER.fine(String.join(" ", args));
-            }
-
-            var pb = new ProcessBuilder();
-            pb.inheritIO();
-            pb.command(args);
-            pb.directory(workDir_);
+        var pb = new ProcessBuilder();
+        pb.inheritIO();
+        pb.command(args);
+        pb.directory(workDir_);
 
+        try {
             var proc = pb.start();
             proc.waitFor();
             ExitStatusException.throwOnFailure(proc.exitValue());
-        } else {
+        } catch (IOException | InterruptedException e) {
             if (LOGGER.isLoggable(Level.SEVERE) && !silent()) {
-                LOGGER.severe("The Kotlin compiler could not be found or executed: " + kotlinc.getAbsolutePath());
+                LOGGER.severe(e.getLocalizedMessage());
             }
             throw new ExitStatusException(ExitStatusException.EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
@@ -315,7 +308,7 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
      * @throws ExitStatusException if an error occurs
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("PMD.SystemPrintln")
-    protected void executeBuildTestSources() throws ExitStatusException, IOException, InterruptedException {
+    protected void executeBuildTestSources() throws ExitStatusException {
         if (!silent()) {
             System.out.println("Compiling Kotlin test sources.");
         }
@@ -386,6 +379,18 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
         return op;
     }
 
+    private String kotlinCompiler() {
+        if (kotlinc_ != null) {
+            return kotlinc_.getAbsolutePath();
+        } else if (kotlinHome_ != null) {
+            var kotlinc = Path.of(kotlinHome_.getAbsolutePath(), "bin", "kotlinc").toFile();
+            if (kotlinc.exists() && kotlinc.canExecute()) {
+                return kotlinc.getAbsolutePath();
+            }
+        }
+        return "kotlinc";
+    }
+
     /**
      * Provides the Kotlin home directory, if it differs from the default {@code KOTLIN_HOME}.
      *
@@ -416,6 +421,36 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
         return kotlinHome_;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Retrieves the path to the Kotlin compiler ({@code kotlinc}) executable, if not in {@link #kotlinHome()}.
+     *
+     * @return the executable path
+     */
+    public File kotlinc() {
+        return kotlinc_;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Provides the path to the Kotlin compiler ({@code kotlinc}) executable, if not in {@link #kotlinHome()}.
+     *
+     * @param executable the executable path
+     * @return this operation instance
+     */
+    public CompileKotlinOperation kotlinc(File executable) {
+        kotlinc_ = executable;
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Provides the path to the Kotlin compiler ({@code kotlinc}) executable, if not in {@link #kotlinHome()}.
+     *
+     * @param executable the executable path
+     * @return this operation instance
+     */
+    public CompileKotlinOperation kotlinc(String executable) {
+        return kotlinc(new File(executable));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Provides main source directories that should be compiled.
      *
@@ -546,9 +581,7 @@ public class CompileKotlinOperation extends AbstractOperation<CompileKotlinOpera
     }
 
     /**
-     * Provides compiler plugins.
-     * <p>
-     * The {@link #kotlinHome()} should be set first.
+     * Provides compiler plugins located in the {@link #kotlinHome()} lib directory.
      *
      * @param plugins one or more plugins
      * @return this class instance
diff --git a/src/test/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperationTest.java b/src/test/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperationTest.java
index dc62990..351714b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/rife/bld/extension/CompileKotlinOperationTest.java
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class CompileKotlinOperationTest {
         var op = new CompileKotlinOperation()
                 .fromProject(new Project())
                 .kotlinHome("/kotlin_home")
+                .kotlinc("kotlinc")
                 .workDir("work_dir")
                 .compileMainClasspath("path1", "path2")
                 .compileOptions(new CompileOptions().jdkRelease("17").verbose(true))
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ class CompileKotlinOperationTest {
                         CompilerPlugin.ALL_OPEN, CompilerPlugin.SAM_WITH_RECEIVER);
 
         assertThat(op.kotlinHome().getName()).as("kotlin_home").isEqualTo("kotlin_home");
+        assertThat(op.kotlinc().getName()).as("kotlinc").isEqualTo("kotlinc");
         assertThat(op.workDir().getName()).as("work_dir").isEqualTo("work_dir");
 
         assertThat(op.compileMainClasspath()).as("compileMainClassPath")