--- po/Makefile.in.in
+++ po/Makefile.in.in
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 SHELL = /bin/sh
 @SET_MAKE@
 
+DESTDIR =
+
 srcdir = @srcdir@
 top_srcdir = @top_srcdir@
 VPATH = @srcdir@
@@ -119,8 +121,8 @@
 	for cat in $$catalogs; do \
 	  cat=`basename $$cat`; \
 	  case "$$cat" in \
-	    *.gmo) destdir=$(gnulocaledir);; \
-	    *)     destdir=$(localedir);; \
+           *.gmo) destdir=$(DESTDIR)$(gnulocaledir);; \
+           *)     destdir=$(DESTDIR)$(localedir);; \
 	  esac; \
 	  lang=`echo $$cat | sed 's/\$(CATOBJEXT)$$//'`; \
 	  dir=$$destdir/$$lang/LC_MESSAGES; \