diff --git a/tools/perf/Documentation/Makefile b/tools/perf/Documentation/Makefile
index bdd3b7ecad0a..bd498d496952 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Documentation/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Documentation/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ DOC_MAN1=$(patsubst %.txt,%.1,$(MAN1_TXT))
 DOC_MAN5=$(patsubst %.txt,%.5,$(MAN5_TXT))
 DOC_MAN7=$(patsubst %.txt,%.7,$(MAN7_TXT))
 
+# Make the path relative to DESTDIR, not prefix
+ifndef DESTDIR
 prefix?=$(HOME)
+endif
 bindir?=$(prefix)/bin
 htmldir?=$(prefix)/share/doc/perf-doc
 pdfdir?=$(prefix)/share/doc/perf-doc
@@ -32,7 +35,6 @@ mandir?=$(prefix)/share/man
 man1dir=$(mandir)/man1
 man5dir=$(mandir)/man5
 man7dir=$(mandir)/man7
-# DESTDIR=
 
 ASCIIDOC=asciidoc
 ASCIIDOC_EXTRA = --unsafe
diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index 5840499e2d22..8a8f52db7e38 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -216,7 +216,10 @@ STRIP ?= strip
 # runtime figures out where they are based on the path to the executable.
 # This can help installing the suite in a relocatable way.
 
+# Make the path relative to DESTDIR, not to prefix
+ifndef DESTDIR
 prefix = $(HOME)
+endif
 bindir_relative = bin
 bindir = $(prefix)/$(bindir_relative)
 mandir = share/man
@@ -233,7 +236,6 @@ sysconfdir = $(prefix)/etc
 ETC_PERFCONFIG = etc/perfconfig
 endif
 lib = lib
-# DESTDIR=
 
 export prefix bindir sharedir sysconfdir