diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index cb41d0d6e..1f41823f0 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ uninstall-local:
 	rm -f $(kde_minidir)/kmail.xpm
 
 messages:
-	@XGETTEXT@ -ki18n -C -x../../kdelibs/po/kde.pot $(kmail_SOURCES) && mv messages.po ../po/kmail.pot 
+	$(XGETTEXT) -C -ki18n -x $(includedir)/kde.pot $(kmail_SOURCES) && mv messages.po ../po/kmail.pot 
 
 kmfolderdia.cpp:kmfolderdia.moc
 kmfolderdia.moc: kmfolderdia.h