diff --git m4/python.m4 m4/python.m4
index 63c0a0e04..f81684378 100644
--- m4/python.m4
+++ m4/python.m4
@@ -147,10 +147,10 @@ except ImportError:
      am_cv_python_pythondir=`$PYTHON -c "
 $am_python_setup_sysconfig
 if can_use_sysconfig:
-    sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('purelib', vars={'base':'$am_py_prefix'})
+    sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('purelib')
 else:
     from distutils import sysconfig
-    sitedir = sysconfig.get_python_lib(0, 0, prefix='$am_py_prefix')
+    sitedir = sysconfig.get_python_lib(0, 0)
 sys.stdout.write(sitedir)"`
      case $am_cv_python_pythondir in
      $am_py_prefix*)
@@ -189,10 +189,10 @@ sys.stdout.write(sitedir)"`
      am_cv_python_pyexecdir=`$PYTHON -c "
 $am_python_setup_sysconfig
 if can_use_sysconfig:
-    sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('platlib', vars={'platbase':'$am_py_prefix'})
+    sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('platlib')
 else:
     from distutils import sysconfig
-    sitedir = sysconfig.get_python_lib(1, 0, prefix='$am_py_prefix')
+    sitedir = sysconfig.get_python_lib(1, 0)
 sys.stdout.write(sitedir)"`
      case $am_cv_python_pyexecdir in
      $am_py_exec_prefix*)