diff --git a/vars.mk b/vars.mk
index ca114c6e..c7b15124 100644
--- a/vars.mk
+++ b/vars.mk
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 # Common variables.
 
-PREFIX	?=
+PREFIX	?= /usr/local
 SBINDIR	?= $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/sbin
 LIBDIR	?= $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/lib
-SHAREDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/usr/share/xbps/shutils
+ifeq ($(PREFIX),/)
+else ifeq ($(PREFIX),)
+SHAREDIR ?= /usr/share/xbps/shutils
+else
+SHAREDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/share/xbps/shutils
+endif
 ETCDIR	?= $(PREFIX)/etc
 TOPDIR	?= ..
 INSTALL_STRIPPED ?= -s