diff --git a/bindings/Makefile.am b/bindings/Makefile.am
index c4fdc10..247fe58 100644
--- a/bindings/Makefile.am
+++ b/bindings/Makefile.am
@@ -22,14 +22,12 @@ all-local:  @COMP_PERL@ @COMP_RUBY@ @COMP_PYTHON@
 install-data-local:
 	$(AM_V_GEN)test -f perl-piped/Makefile && cd perl-piped && $(MAKE) install || true
 	$(AM_V_GEN)test -f perl-shared/Makefile && cd perl-shared && $(MAKE) install || true
-	$(AM_V_GEN)test -f ruby/Makefile && cd ruby && $(MAKE) EPREFIX=$(DESTDIR)$(exec_prefix) $(RUBY_MAKE_OPTIONS) install || true
+	$(AM_V_GEN)test -f ruby/Makefile && $(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/ruby/vendor_ruby && cd ruby && $(MAKE) EPREFIX=$(DESTDIR)$(exec_prefix) $(RUBY_MAKE_OPTIONS) hdrdir="$(includedir)" rubyhdrdir="$(includedir)" includedir="$(includedir)" install || true
 	$(AM_V_GEN)test -d python/build && cd python && env BUILDLIBDIR=../../src/.libs $(PYTHON) setup.py install --skip-build --prefix=$(DESTDIR)$(prefix) --exec-prefix=$(DESTDIR)$(exec_prefix) || true
 
 # rules for building the ruby module
-# RUBYARCHDIR= is to work around in a makefile quirk not sure 
-# it is is the right thing todo, but it makes rrdtool build on freebsd as well
 ruby:   Makefile
-	cd ruby && $(RUBY) extconf.rb && $(MAKE) EPREFIX=$(exec_prefix) $(RUBY_MAKE_OPTIONS) RUBYARCHDIR=
+	cd ruby && $(RUBY) extconf.rb && $(MAKE) EPREFIX=$(exec_prefix) $(RUBY_MAKE_OPTIONS) hdrdir="$(includedir)" rubyhdrdir="$(includedir)" includedir="$(includedir)"
 
 # rules for building the pyton module
 python: Makefile