diff --git a/cmake/templates/python_distutils_install.sh.in b/cmake/templates/python_distutils_install.sh.in
index 33520c8a3..f1f9b2cc6 100755
--- a/cmake/templates/python_distutils_install.sh.in
+++ b/cmake/templates/python_distutils_install.sh.in
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ echo_and_run() { echo "+ $@" ; "$@" ; }
 echo_and_run cd "@INSTALL_CMD_WORKING_DIRECTORY@"
 
 # snsure that Python install destination exists
-echo_and_run mkdir -p "@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/@PYTHON_INSTALL_DIR@"
+echo_and_run mkdir -p "$DESTDIR@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/@PYTHON_INSTALL_DIR@"
 
 # Note that PYTHONPATH is pulled from the environment to support installing
 # into one location when some dependencies were installed in another