diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 9726d4a..b94a486 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ configure-stamp:
 	dh_testdir
 	# we add LDFLAGS="-lpthread" for bug #253629
 	./configure $(confflags) \
+		--sysconfdir=/etc \
 		--prefix=/usr \
 		--enable-usbdropdir=/usr/lib/pcsc/drivers \
 		CFLAGS="$(CFLAGS)" \