diff --git a/mk/prepare.mk b/mk/prepare.mk
index f1c4aa65f5ffe..895e295ca16fa 100644
--- a/mk/prepare.mk
+++ b/mk/prepare.mk
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_SOURCE_BIN_DIR=$$(PREPARE_SOURCE_DIR)/bin
 prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_SOURCE_LIB_DIR=$$(PREPARE_SOURCE_DIR)/$$(CFG_LIBDIR_RELATIVE)
 prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_SOURCE_MAN_DIR=$$(S)/man
 prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_DEST_BIN_DIR=$$(PREPARE_DEST_DIR)/bin
-prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_DEST_LIB_DIR=$$(PREPARE_DEST_DIR)/$$(CFG_LIBDIR_RELATIVE)
+# NB: this is /lib, not /$$(CFG_LIBDIR_RELATIVE). install.sh moves into --libdir
+prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_DEST_LIB_DIR=$$(PREPARE_DEST_DIR)/lib
 prepare-base-$(1): PREPARE_DEST_MAN_DIR=$$(PREPARE_DEST_DIR)/share/man/man1
 prepare-base-$(1): prepare-everything-$(1)