diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 0ff9363..9789ba3 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 
 EXTRA_DIST = asn1 .version README.md contrib/remsim-apitool.py
 
+AM_DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = \
+	--with-systemdsystemunitdir=$$dc_install_base/$(systemdsystemunitdir) \
+	--with-usbdropdir=$$dc_install_base/$(usbdropdir) \
+	--with-serialconfdir=$$dc_install_base/$(serialconfdir)
+
 pkgcofigdir = $(libdir)/pkgconfig
 
 @RELMAKE@
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0c1f595..c4d9766 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -69,16 +69,14 @@
 	PKG_CHECK_MODULES(OSMOSIMTRACE2, libosmo-simtrace2)
 	PKG_CHECK_MODULES(USB, libusb-1.0)
 
-	# we cannot use the below command, as 'make distcheck' would fail due to the lack
-	# of ${prefix} being involved :(
-	#ifd_dropdir=`pkg-config --variable=usbdropdir libpcsclite`
-	#serialconfdir=`pkg-config --variable=serialconfdir libpcsclite`
-	ifd_dropdir="${libdir}/pcsc"
-	serialconfdir="${sysconfdir}/reader.conf.d"
+	ifd_dropdir=`pkg-config --variable=usbdropdir libpcsclite`
 	# allow user to override the dropdir for the PCSC driver bundle
 	AC_ARG_WITH(usbdropdir, [--with-usbdropdir	PCSC bundle location],
 				[usbdropdir="${withval}"], [usbdropdir="${ifd_dropdir}"])
 	AC_SUBST(usbdropdir)
+	_serialconfdir=`pkg-config --variable=serialconfdir libpcsclite`
+	AC_ARG_WITH(serialconfdir, [--with-serialconfdir PCSC config directory location],
+				[serialconfdir="${withval}"], [serialconfdir="${_serialconfdir}"])
 	AC_SUBST(serialconfdir)
 fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_CLIENT, test "x$osmo_ac_build_client" = "xyes")
diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 2714cc0..fddb043 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 override_dh_auto_configure:
 	dh_auto_configure --	--with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system \
-				--with-usbdropdir=$(USBDROPDIR) \
 				--enable-manuals
 
 #override_dh_clean: