diff --git a/externals/Makefile.am b/externals/Makefile.am
index 5ce4ae94cd..07258aabee 100644
--- a/externals/Makefile.am
+++ b/externals/Makefile.am
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ build-bzip2: have-bzip2
 	touch build-bzip2
 
 install:
-	mkdir -p ${bzip2_bin}
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)${bzip2_bin}
 	$(INSTALL_PROGRAM) $(bzip2_bin_test)/bzip2 $(bzip2_bin_test)/bunzip2 $(DESTDIR)${bzip2_bin}
 endif