diff --git a/lib/hdb/Makefile.am b/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
index 166321c4a..3a55c0f63 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS += $(INCLUDE_openldap)
 include_HEADERS = hdb.h hdb-protos.h
 nodist_include_HEADERS =  hdb_err.h hdb_asn1.h
 
+libhdb_la_CPPFLAGS = -DHDB_DB_DIR=\"$(DIR_hdbdir)\"
+
 libhdb_la_LIBADD = \
 	$(LIB_com_err) \
 	../krb5/libkrb5.la \
diff --git a/lib/hdb/hdb_locl.h b/lib/hdb/hdb_locl.h
index 13dc4ea34..9229146d0 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/hdb_locl.h
+++ b/lib/hdb/hdb_locl.h
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@
 #include <hdb.h>
 #include <hdb-private.h>
 
-#define HDB_DB_DIR "/var/heimdal"
 #define HDB_DEFAULT_DB HDB_DB_DIR "/heimdal"
 #define HDB_DB_FORMAT_ENTRY "hdb/db-format"