diff --git a/lib/Makefile.local b/lib/Makefile.local
index a60ef989..2d36db1c 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile.local
+++ b/lib/Makefile.local
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ SONAME = $(LINKER_NAME).$(LIBNOTMUCH_VERSION_MAJOR)
 LIBNAME = $(SONAME).$(LIBNOTMUCH_VERSION_MINOR).$(LIBNOTMUCH_VERSION_RELEASE)
 LIBRARY_LINK_FLAG = -shared -Wl,-soname=$(SONAME)
 ifeq ($(LIBDIR_IN_LDCONFIG),1)
+ifeq ($(DESTDIR),)
 LIBRARY_INSTALL_POST_COMMAND=ldconfig
 endif
 endif
+endif
 
 dir := lib
 extra_cflags += -I$(dir) -fPIC