diff --git a/dcoppython/configure.in.in b/dcoppython/configure.in.in
index c4d84ea2..dddf4c64 100644
--- a/dcoppython/configure.in.in
+++ b/dcoppython/configure.in.in
@@ -10,3 +10,7 @@ AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON],[python2])
 if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
     AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON],[python])
 fi
+if test -n "$PYTHON"; then
+    python_site=$($PYTHON -c 'from distutils import sysconfig; print(sysconfig.get_python_lib())')
+    AC_SUBST(PYTHON_SITE, $python_site)
+fi
diff --git a/dcoppython/lib/Makefile.am b/dcoppython/lib/Makefile.am
index c72a0662..bfa7890c 100644
--- a/dcoppython/lib/Makefile.am
+++ b/dcoppython/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 
 pyt_DATA = pydcop.py 
-pytdir = $(PYTHONMODDIR)/site-packages
-
+pytdir = $(PYTHON_SITE)
diff --git a/dcoppython/shell/Makefile.am b/dcoppython/shell/Makefile.am
index 2d4a5b01..3dbbc907 100644
--- a/dcoppython/shell/Makefile.am
+++ b/dcoppython/shell/Makefile.am
@@ -13,13 +13,10 @@ marshal_funcs_doc.html: $(srcdir)/marshal_funcs_doc.xsl marshal_funcs_doc.xml
 INCLUDES = $(PYTHONINC) $(all_includes)
 
 pythlib_LTLIBRARIES = pcop.la
-pythlibdir = $(PYTHONMODDIR)/site-packages
+pythlibdir = $(PYTHON_SITE)
 
 pcop_la_SOURCES = pcop.cpp marshaller.cpp importedmodules.cpp
 pcop_la_LDFLAGS = $(all_libraries) -module -avoid-version
 pcop_la_LIBADD = -lDCOP -ltdecore $(LIB_TQT) $(LIBPYTHON)
 
 noinst_HEADERS = pcop.h marshaller.h marshal_funcs.h importedmodules.h
-
-
-