diff --git a/lib/py/Makefile.am b/lib/py/Makefile.am
index 579a3eb..27d1115 100644
--- a/lib/py/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/py/Makefile.am
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+DESTDIR ?= /
+
 install-exec-hook:
-	$(PYTHON) setup.py install
+	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --prefix=$(prefix) --root=$(DESTDIR) $(PYTHON_SETUPUTIL_ARGS)