diff --git a/mkpkg b/mkpkg
index 68cf6c43b..fba659a59 100755
--- a/mkpkg
+++ b/mkpkg
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ case "$platform" in
 	make_opts='docdir=$(datarootdir)/doc/packages/$(PACKAGE_TARNAME)'
 	;;
     deb.*)
+	prefix=/usr
 	# Note, must indent with tabs, not spaces due to IFS trickery
 	if test "${SUDO_FLAVOR:-vanilla}" == "ldap"; then
 	    configure_opts="--with-ldap