--- a/po/Makefile.in.in
+++ b/po/Makefile.in.in
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@
 	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; \