diff --git a/CIME/BuildTools/configure.py b/CIME/BuildTools/configure.py
index 534fc57196f..c96228571e8 100755
--- a/CIME/BuildTools/configure.py
+++ b/CIME/BuildTools/configure.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def configure(
             )
             for f in glob.iglob(os.path.join(ccs_mach_dir, "*.cmake")):
                 print(f"copying {f} to {output_dir}")
-                safe_copy(f, output_dir)
+                safe_copy(f, output_cmake_macros_dir)
 
         copy_local_macros_to_dir(
             output_cmake_macros_dir, extra_machdir=extra_machines_dir