diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0cd8cfa..da93d4c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 prefix = /usr
 
+ifdef DESTDIR
+BASEDIR := $(DESTDIR)
+endif
+
 CFLAGS ?= -g -O2
 
 PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
diff --git a/po/Makefile b/po/Makefile
index d695b49..6df1463 100644
--- a/po/Makefile
+++ b/po/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 prefix = /usr
 
+ifdef DESTDIR
+BASEDIR := $(DESTDIR)
+endif
+
 INSTALL= install
 
 INSTALLNLSDIR=$(BASEDIR)$(prefix)/share/locale