diff --git a/perl/Makefile.am b/perl/Makefile.am
index d34adbe1f..780024fda 100644
--- a/perl/Makefile.am
+++ b/perl/Makefile.am
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ clean-local:
 	rm -f Makefile-pl
 
 install-data-hook:
-	$(MAKE) -f Makefile-pl DESTDIR=$(DESTDIR) install
+	$(MAKE) -C $(srcdir) -f $(abs_builddir)/Makefile-pl \
+		DESTDIR=$(DESTDIR) install
 
 endif