diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5c3f2bbe3bc256a6deb53153c0c4698c5914b2dc..179f538f23dd0f81f823b17097138626490fa709 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ AM_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 DUNE_CHECK_ALL_M
 
 # preset variable to path such that #include <dune/...> works
-AC_SUBST([DUNE_COMMON_ROOT], '$(top_builddir)')
+AC_SUBST([DUNE_COMMON_ROOT], '$(top_srcdir)')
 AC_SUBST([AM_CPPFLAGS], '-I$(top_srcdir)')
 AC_SUBST([LOCAL_LIBS], '$(top_builddir)/common/libcommon.la')