diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1b7ad2b8b7cf9be00cf697a71b038985dd374a61..088fc039c5c35153e64ddd44a41a133376a5fc9d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ AM_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 DUNE_CHECK_ALL_M
 
 # preset variable to path such that #include <dune/...> works
-AC_SUBST([DUNE_COMMON_ROOT], '$(top_srcdir)')
+AC_SUBST([DUNE_COMMON_ROOT], '$(top_builddir)')
 AC_SUBST([AM_CPPFLAGS], '-I$(top_srcdir)')
 AC_SUBST([LOCAL_LIBS], '$(top_builddir)/common/libcommon.la')