diff --git a/contrib/php/Makefile.in b/contrib/php/Makefile.in
index 386e767..154779b 100644
--- a/contrib/php/Makefile.in
+++ b/contrib/php/Makefile.in
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ gettextsrcdir = $(datadir)/gettext/po
 
 INSTALL = /usr/bin/install -c
 INSTALL_DATA = ${INSTALL} -m 644
-MKINSTALLDIRS = $(mkdir_p)
+MKINSTALLDIRS = $(top_srcdir)/mkinstalldirs
 mkinstalldirs = $(SHELL) $(MKINSTALLDIRS)
 
 GMSGFMT = /usr/bin/gmsgfmt