When you want to install a package to a location other than /, or /usr, you are installing outside the default environment settings on most machines. The following examples should assist you in determining how to correct this situation. The examples cover the complete range of settings that may need updating, but they are not all needed in every situation. Expand the PATH to include $PREFIX/bin. Expand the PATH for root to include $PREFIX/sbin. Add $PREFIX/lib to /etc/ld.so.conf or expand LD_LIBRARY_PATH to include it. Before using the latter option, check out . If you modify /etc/ld.so.conf remember to update /etc/ld.so.cache by executing ldconfig. Add $PREFIX/man to /etc/man.conf or expand MANPATH. Add $PREFIX/info to INFOPATH. Add $PREFIX/lib/pkgconfig to PKG_CONFIG_PATH. Add $PREFIX/include to CPPFLAGS when compiling packages that depend on the package you installed.