diff --git a/crates/cli/src/cli/mod.rs b/crates/cli/src/cli/mod.rs
index 4060d318..5c00f83e 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -189,9 +189,12 @@ pub struct StartSimnet {
     /// List of keypair paths to airdrop (eg. surfpool start --airdrop-keypair-path ~/.config/solana/id.json --airdrop-keypair-path ~/.config/solana/id2.json)
     #[arg(long = "airdrop-keypair-path", short = 'k', default_value = DEFAULT_SOLANA_KEYPAIR_PATH.as_str())]
     pub airdrop_keypair_path: Vec<String>,
-    /// Watch programs in your `target/deploy` folder, and automatically re-execute the deployment runbook when the `.so` files change. (eg. surfpool start --watch)
+    /// Watch programs in your artifacts folder (default: `target/deploy`), and automatically re-execute the deployment runbook when the `.so` files change. (eg. surfpool start --watch)
     #[clap(long = "watch", action=ArgAction::SetTrue, default_value = "false")]
     pub watch: bool,
+    /// Override the path where .so program artifacts are loaded from (default: target/deploy). (eg. surfpool start --artifacts-path ./target/deploy/debug)
+    #[arg(long = "artifacts-path")]
+    pub artifacts_path: Option<String>,
     /// List of geyser plugins to load (eg. surfpool start --geyser-plugin-config plugin1.json --geyser-plugin-config plugin2.json)
     #[arg(long = "geyser-plugin-config", short = 'g')]
     pub plugin_config_path: Vec<String>,
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/cli/simnet/mod.rs b/crates/cli/src/cli/simnet/mod.rs
index e0c69848..0e7b1f2d 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/cli/simnet/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/cli/simnet/mod.rs
@@ -512,15 +512,22 @@ async fn write_and_execute_iac(
     // If there were existing on-disk runbooks, we'll execute those instead of in-memory ones
     // If there were no existing runbooks and the user requested autopilot, we'll generate and execute in-memory runbooks
     // If there were no existing runbooks and the user did not request autopilot, we'll generate and execute on-disk runbooks
-    let do_execute_in_memory_runbooks = cmd.anchor_compat && !txtx_manifest_exists;
-    if !cmd.anchor_compat && txtx_manifest_exists {
+    // When --artifacts-path is set, always use in-memory runbooks so the custom bin_path is injected
+    let has_custom_artifacts_path = cmd.artifacts_path.is_some();
+    let do_execute_in_memory_runbooks =
+        has_custom_artifacts_path || (cmd.anchor_compat && !txtx_manifest_exists);
+    if !has_custom_artifacts_path && !cmd.anchor_compat && txtx_manifest_exists {
         let runbooks_ids_to_execute = cmd.runbooks.clone();
         on_disk_runbook_data = Some((txtx_manifest_location.clone(), runbooks_ids_to_execute));
     };
 
     // Are we in a project directory?
-    if let Ok(deployment) =
-        detect_program_frameworks(&cmd.manifest_path, &cmd.anchor_test_config_paths).await
+    if let Ok(deployment) = detect_program_frameworks(
+        &cmd.manifest_path,
+        &cmd.anchor_test_config_paths,
+        cmd.artifacts_path.as_deref(),
+    )
+    .await
     {
         if let Some(ProgramFrameworkData {
             framework,
@@ -549,7 +556,8 @@ async fn write_and_execute_iac(
             }
 
             // Is infrastructure-as-code (IaC) already setup?
-            let do_write_scaffold = !cmd.anchor_compat && !txtx_manifest_exists;
+            let do_write_scaffold =
+                !has_custom_artifacts_path && !cmd.anchor_compat && !txtx_manifest_exists;
             if do_write_scaffold {
                 // Scaffold IaC
                 scaffold_iac_layout(
@@ -572,6 +580,7 @@ async fn write_and_execute_iac(
                     &accounts,
                     &accounts_dir,
                     generate_subgraphs,
+                    cmd.artifacts_path.as_deref(),
                 )?);
             }
         }
@@ -593,11 +602,16 @@ async fn write_and_execute_iac(
             .map_err(|e| format!("Thread to execute runbooks exited: {}", e))?;
 
         if cmd.watch {
+            let artifacts_path_for_watch = cmd.artifacts_path.clone();
             let _handle = hiro_system_kit::thread_named("Watch Filesystem")
                 .spawn(move || {
                     let mut target_path = base_location.clone();
-                    let _ = target_path.append_path("target");
-                    let _ = target_path.append_path("deploy");
+                    if let Some(ref path) = artifacts_path_for_watch {
+                        let _ = target_path.append_path(path);
+                    } else {
+                        let _ = target_path.append_path("target");
+                        let _ = target_path.append_path("deploy");
+                    }
                     let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel::<NotifyResult<Event>>();
                     let mut watcher = notify::recommended_watcher(tx).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
                     watcher
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/anchor.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/anchor.rs
index 6c6ffa68..7b0bd48e 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/anchor.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/anchor.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ fn should_generate_subgraphs(anchor_version: &Option<String>) -> bool {
 pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
     base_location: FileLocation,
     test_suite_paths: &[String],
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<ProgramFrameworkData>, String> {
     let mut manifest_location = base_location.clone();
     manifest_location.append_path("Anchor.toml")?;
@@ -60,10 +61,16 @@ pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
         if let Some((_, deployments)) = manifest.programs.iter().next() {
             for (program_name, deployment) in deployments.iter() {
                 let so_exists = {
-                    let mut so_path = target_location.clone();
-                    so_path.append_path("deploy")?;
-                    so_path.append_path(&format!("{}.so", program_name))?;
-                    so_path.exists()
+                    if let Some(artifacts) = artifacts_path {
+                        let mut so_path = base_location.clone();
+                        so_path.append_path(&format!("{}/{}.so", artifacts, program_name))?;
+                        so_path.exists()
+                    } else {
+                        let mut so_path = target_location.clone();
+                        so_path.append_path("deploy")?;
+                        so_path.append_path(&format!("{}.so", program_name))?;
+                        so_path.exists()
+                    }
                 };
                 programs.push(ProgramMetadata::new(
                     program_name,
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/mod.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/mod.rs
index a89760e4..bb2dc86d 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/mod.rs
@@ -76,20 +76,23 @@ impl ProgramFrameworkData {
 pub async fn detect_program_frameworks(
     manifest_path: &str,
     test_paths: &[String],
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<ProgramFrameworkData>, String> {
     let manifest_location = FileLocation::from_path_string(manifest_path)?;
     let base_dir = manifest_location.get_parent_location()?;
     // Look for Anchor project layout
     // Note: Poseidon projects generate Anchor.toml files, so they will also be identified here
-    if let Some(res) = anchor::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone(), test_paths)
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Anchor project: {e}"))?
+    if let Some(res) =
+        anchor::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone(), test_paths, artifacts_path)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Anchor project: {e}"))?
     {
         return Ok(Some(res));
     }
 
     // Look for Steel project layout
-    if let Some((framework, programs)) = steel::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone())
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Steel project: {e}"))?
+    if let Some((framework, programs)) =
+        steel::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone(), artifacts_path)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Steel project: {e}"))?
     {
         return Ok(Some(ProgramFrameworkData::partial(framework, programs)));
     }
@@ -102,15 +105,17 @@ pub async fn detect_program_frameworks(
     }
 
     // Look for Pinocchio project layout
-    if let Some((framework, programs)) = pinocchio::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone())
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Pinocchio project: {e}"))?
+    if let Some((framework, programs)) =
+        pinocchio::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone(), artifacts_path)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Pinocchio project: {e}"))?
     {
         return Ok(Some(ProgramFrameworkData::partial(framework, programs)));
     }
 
     // Look for Native project layout
-    if let Some((framework, programs)) = native::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone())
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Native project: {e}"))?
+    if let Some((framework, programs)) =
+        native::try_get_programs_from_project(base_dir.clone(), artifacts_path)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid Native project: {e}"))?
     {
         return Ok(Some(ProgramFrameworkData::partial(framework, programs)));
     }
@@ -142,6 +147,7 @@ pub fn scaffold_in_memory_iac(
     accounts: &Option<Vec<AccountEntry>>,
     accounts_dir: &Option<Vec<AccountDirEntry>>,
     generate_subgraphs: bool,
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<(String, RunbookSources, WorkspaceManifest), String> {
     let mut deployment_runbook_src: String = String::new();
 
@@ -157,8 +163,10 @@ pub fn scaffold_in_memory_iac(
     for program_metadata in programs.iter() {
         if program_metadata.so_exists {
             deployment_runbook_src.push_str(
-                &framework
-                    .get_in_memory_interpolated_program_deployment_template(&program_metadata.name),
+                &framework.get_in_memory_interpolated_program_deployment_template(
+                    &program_metadata.name,
+                    artifacts_path,
+                ),
             );
 
             if generate_subgraphs {
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/native.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/native.rs
index abf45564..15402c1b 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/native.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/native.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::types::Framework;
 /// it is considered a native project.
 pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
     base_location: FileLocation,
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<(Framework, Vec<ProgramMetadata>)>> {
     let mut manifest_location = base_location.clone();
     manifest_location
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
             "solana-program",
             &base_location,
             &manifest,
+            artifacts_path,
         )?
         else {
             return Ok(None);
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/pinocchio.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/pinocchio.rs
index cf1634d0..847af94c 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/pinocchio.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/pinocchio.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::types::Framework;
 /// it is considered a native project.
 pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
     base_location: FileLocation,
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<(Framework, Vec<ProgramMetadata>)>> {
     let mut manifest_location = base_location.clone();
     manifest_location
@@ -25,8 +26,12 @@ pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
         let manifest = CargoManifestFile::from_manifest_str(&manifest)
             .map_err(|e| anyhow!("unable to read Cargo.toml: {}", e))?;
 
-        let Some(program_metadata) =
-            get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep("pinocchio", &base_location, &manifest)?
+        let Some(program_metadata) = get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep(
+            "pinocchio",
+            &base_location,
+            &manifest,
+            artifacts_path,
+        )?
         else {
             return Ok(None);
         };
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/steel.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/steel.rs
index bfe6001a..55c822d9 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/steel.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/steel.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::types::Framework;
 /// it is considered a native project.
 pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
     base_location: FileLocation,
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<(Framework, Vec<ProgramMetadata>)>> {
     let mut manifest_location = base_location.clone();
     manifest_location
@@ -25,8 +26,12 @@ pub fn try_get_programs_from_project(
         let manifest = CargoManifestFile::from_manifest_str(&manifest)
             .map_err(|e| anyhow!("unable to read Cargo.toml: {}", e))?;
 
-        let Some(program_metadata) =
-            get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep("steel", &base_location, &manifest)?
+        let Some(program_metadata) = get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep(
+            "steel",
+            &base_location,
+            &manifest,
+            artifacts_path,
+        )?
         else {
             return Ok(None);
         };
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/utils.rs b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/utils.rs
index 446282db..bdbda590 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/scaffold/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/scaffold/utils.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ pub fn get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep(
     dependency_indicator: &str,
     base_location: &FileLocation,
     manifest: &CargoManifestFile,
+    artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Option<ProgramMetadata>> {
     let Some(manifest) =
         manifest.get_manifest_with_dependency(dependency_indicator, base_location)?
@@ -43,12 +44,15 @@ pub fn get_program_metadata_from_manifest_with_dep(
     };
 
     let so_exists = {
+        let so_path_str = if let Some(artifacts) = artifacts_path {
+            format!("{}/{}.so", artifacts, program_name)
+        } else {
+            format!("target/deploy/{}.so", program_name)
+        };
         let mut so_path = base_location.clone();
-        so_path
-            .append_path(&format!("target/deploy/{}.so", program_name))
-            .map_err(|e| {
-                anyhow!("failed to construct path to program .so file for existence check: {e}")
-            })?;
+        so_path.append_path(&so_path_str).map_err(|e| {
+            anyhow!("failed to construct path to program .so file for existence check: {e}")
+        })?;
         so_path.exists()
     };
 
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/types/mod.rs b/crates/cli/src/types/mod.rs
index aae397ba..e6bf2b0d 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/types/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/types/mod.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ impl Framework {
     pub fn get_in_memory_interpolated_program_deployment_template(
         &self,
         program_name: &str,
+        artifacts_path: Option<&str>,
     ) -> String {
-        match self {
+        let base = match self {
             Framework::Anchor => {
                 get_in_memory_interpolated_anchor_program_deployment_template(program_name)
             }
@@ -37,6 +38,22 @@ impl Framework {
             Framework::Native | Framework::Steel | Framework::Pinocchio => {
                 get_in_memory_interpolated_native_program_deployment_template(program_name)
             }
+        };
+        if let Some(artifacts) = artifacts_path {
+            let get_program_fn = match self {
+                Framework::Anchor => "svm::get_program_from_anchor_project",
+                _ => "svm::get_program_from_native_project",
+            };
+            let bin_path = format!("{}/{}.so", artifacts.trim_end_matches('/'), program_name);
+            // Pass bin_path as the 4th argument (program_name, keypair_path, idl_path, bin_path)
+            let old = format!("program = {}(\"{}\") ", get_program_fn, program_name);
+            let new = format!(
+                "program = {}(\"{}\", null, null, \"{}\") ",
+                get_program_fn, program_name, bin_path
+            );
+            base.replace(&old, &new)
+        } else {
+            base
         }
     }
     pub fn get_interpolated_subgraph_template(