diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d5203f5..66572fc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@
 # notice are preserved.  This file is offered as-is, without any warranty.
 
 .POSIX:
+
+# if using BSD make(1), remove these pragmas because they break it
 .PRAGMA: posix_202x # future POSIX standard support à la pdpmake(1)
 .PRAGMA: command_comment # breaks without this?
 
+DESTDIR=./dist
 PREFIX=/usr/local
 
 CC?=cc
@@ -32,14 +35,13 @@ clean:
 	rm -rf build/ dist/
 
 dist: all
-	mkdir -p dist/bin dist/share/man/man1
-	cp build/bin/* dist/bin/
-	cp docs/*.1 dist/share/man/man1/
+	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/bin $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/share/man/man1
+	cp build/bin/* $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/bin/
+	cp docs/*.1 $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/share/man/man1/
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: dist
-	mkdir -p $(PREFIX)
-	cp -r dist/* $(PREFIX)/
+	cp -r $(DESTDIR)/* /
 
 .PHONY: test
 test: build