diff --git a/debian/rules.d/Makefile.inc b/debian/rules.d/Makefile.inc
index 48194af62..3da8eae56 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/Makefile.inc
+++ b/debian/rules.d/Makefile.inc
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ CPPFLAGS := $(shell dpkg-buildflags --get CPPFLAGS) \
 CXXFLAGS := $(shell dpkg-buildflags --get CXXFLAGS) -Wall
 LDFLAGS := $(shell dpkg-buildflags --get LDFLAGS)
 
+installdir ?= $(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)
+
 all: all-local all-recursive
 clean: clean-recursive
 install: install-local install-recursive
@@ -32,23 +34,23 @@ install-local: install-local-progs install-local-scripts install-local-data
 
 install-local-progs: $(PROGS)
 	@for p in $^; do \
-	  echo " install -m755 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)'"; \
-	  install -D -m755 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
+	  echo " install -m755 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)'"; \
+	  install -D -m755 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
 	done
 
 SCRIPTS_REAL = $(wildcard $(addprefix $(top_srcdir)/$(OUTDIR)/,$(SCRIPTS)))
 
 install-local-scripts: $(SCRIPTS_REAL)
 	@for p in $^; do \
-	  echo " install -m755 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)'"; \
-	  install -D -m755 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
+	  echo " install -m755 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)'"; \
+	  install -D -m755 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
 	done
 
 DATA_REAL = $(wildcard $(addprefix $(top_srcdir)/$(OUTDIR)/,$(DATA)))
 
 install-local-data: $(DATA_REAL)
 	@for p in $^; do \
-	  echo " install -m644 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)'"; \
-	  install -D -m644 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(prefix)/$(OUTDIR)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
+	  echo " install -m644 '$$p' '$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)'"; \
+	  install -D -m644 "$$p" "$(DESTDIR)/$(installdir)/$$(basename $$p)"; \
 	done
 
diff --git a/debian/rules.d/tools/hv/Makefile b/debian/rules.d/tools/hv/Makefile
index 13315da4f..339a8b1ab 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/tools/hv/Makefile
+++ b/debian/rules.d/tools/hv/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ PROGS = \
 	hv_kvp_daemon \
 	hv_vss_daemon
 
-prefix = /usr/sbin
+installdir = /usr/sbin
 
 include $(top_rulesdir)/Makefile.inc