diff --git a/src/systemd/Makefile.am b/src/systemd/Makefile.am
index f28ea41df..684b82006 100644
--- a/src/systemd/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/systemd/Makefile.am
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ dist_motd_SCRIPTS = src/systemd/update-motd
 
 # Automake: 'Variables using ... ‘sysconf’ ... are installed by install-exec.'
 install-exec-hook::
-	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/motd.d
-	ln -sTfr $(DESTDIR)/run/cockpit/motd $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/motd.d/cockpit
-	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/issue.d
-	ln -sTfr $(DESTDIR)/run/cockpit/motd $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/issue.d/cockpit.issue
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/motd.d
+	ln -sTfr $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)/run/cockpit/motd $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/motd.d/cockpit
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/issue.d
+	ln -sTfr $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)/run/cockpit/motd $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/issue.d/cockpit.issue
 
 tempconfdir = $(prefix)/lib/tmpfiles.d
 nodist_tempconf_DATA = src/systemd/cockpit-tempfiles.conf
diff --git a/src/ws/Makefile-ws.am b/src/ws/Makefile-ws.am
index ed4e4363e..77a35b0e5 100644
--- a/src/ws/Makefile-ws.am
+++ b/src/ws/Makefile-ws.am
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ install-tests::
 	$(INSTALL_DATA) mock-pam-conv-mod.so $(DESTDIR)$(pamdir)/
 
 install-exec-hook::
-	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/ws-certs.d $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/machines.d
-	chmod 755 $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/ws-certs.d $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/machines.d
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/ws-certs.d $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/machines.d
+	chmod 755 $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/ws-certs.d $(DESTDIR)$(prefix)$(sysconfdir)/cockpit/machines.d
 
 dist_check_DATA += \
 	src/ws/mock-combined.crt \