diff --git a/python/Makefile.am b/python/Makefile.am
index 23398e0dbb963273e86d2f714affd16d2ae6b6bd..232aaaac5378ad2f8190bb5c309e99c7eac12f6a 100644
--- a/python/Makefile.am
+++ b/python/Makefile.am
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ clean-local:
 	rm -rf $(builddir)/build $(builddir)/*.so $(PYTHON_INSTALL_RECORD)
 
 install-exec-local:
-	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --record $(PYTHON_INSTALL_RECORD)
+	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --root=$(DESTDIR) --record $(PYTHON_INSTALL_RECORD)
 	rm -rf $(builddir)/build
 
 if HAVE_PIP