diff --git a/freshclam/CMakeLists.txt b/freshclam/CMakeLists.txt
index ef3616fe32..7f2ae9e1d9 100644
--- a/freshclam/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/freshclam/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 # Install an empty database directory
-INSTALL(CODE "FILE(MAKE_DIRECTORY \${ENV}\${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/\${DATABASE_DIRECTORY})" COMPONENT programs)
+if(IS_ABSOLUTE ${DATABASE_DIRECTORY})
+    INSTALL(DIRECTORY DESTINATION $ENV{DESTDIR}${DATABASE_DIRECTORY} COMPONENT programs)
+else()
+    INSTALL(DIRECTORY DESTINATION $ENV{DESTDIR}${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${DATABASE_DIRECTORY} COMPONENT programs)
+endif()
 
 # Now we rename freshclam-bin executable to freshclam using target properties
 set_target_properties( freshclam-bin