diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8e409885cc..56dd7b72e3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1140,7 +1140,7 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(PLUGINS_DIR,"$PLUGINS_DIR")
 AC_SUBST(PLUGINS_DIR)
 
 dnl Set location of uninstalled plugin directory
-PLUGINS_BUILDDIR=${builddir}
+PLUGINS_BUILDDIR=`pwd`
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(PLUGINS_BUILDDIR,"$PLUGINS_BUILDDIR")
 AC_SUBST(PLUGINS_BUILDDIR)