diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 85f2f8f6..9f897018 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ man_MANS = avrdude.1
 sysconf_DATA = avrdude.conf
 
 avrdude.conf: avrdude.conf.sample
-	cp avrdude.conf.sample $@
+	cp $(srcdir)/avrdude.conf.sample $@
 
 distclean-local:
 	rm -rf avrdude.conf