diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pam/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pam/default.nix
index d1a035d74480..e4429cc3bd7c 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pam/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pam/default.nix
@@ -44,9 +44,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # which is done by dlopening $out/lib/security/pam_foo.so
   # $out/etc was also missed: pam_env(login:session): Unable to open config file
 
-  preConfigure = ''
-    configureFlags="$configureFlags --includedir=$out/include/security"
-  '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.hostPlatform.libc == "musl") ''
+  preConfigure = stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.hostPlatform.libc == "musl") ''
       # export ac_cv_search_crypt=no
       # (taken from Alpine linux, apparently insecure but also doesn't build O:))
       # disable insecure modules
@@ -54,6 +52,15 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       sed -e 's/pam_rhosts//g' -i modules/Makefile.in
   '';
 
+  configureFlags = [
+    "--includedir=${placeholder "out"}/include/security"
+    "--enable-sconfigdir=/etc/security"
+  ];
+
+  installFlags = [
+    "SCONFIGDIR=${placeholder "out"}/etc/security"
+  ];
+
   doCheck = false; # fails
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {