diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 280cf64d..e10eb79f 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -888,8 +888,9 @@ $(PDIR)/timestamp: $(PDIR)/sigrok/core/classes.i \
 
 python-install:
 	$(AM_V_at)$(MKDIR_P) "$(DESTDIR)$(prefix)" "$(DESTDIR)$(exec_prefix)"
-	destdir='$(DESTDIR)'; $(setup_py) install $${destdir:+"--root=$$destdir"} \
-		--prefix "$(prefix)" --exec-prefix "$(exec_prefix)"
+	destdir='$(DESTDIR)'; $(setup_py) install --root=$${destdir:-/} \
+		--prefix "$(prefix)" --exec-prefix "$(exec_prefix)" \
+		--single-version-externally-managed
 
 python-clean:
 	-$(AM_V_at)rm -f $(PDIR)/timestamp