diff --git a/README b/README
index 647df05..0953f37 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -102,10 +102,14 @@
 
         ./configure CXXFLAGS='-g -O2'
         ./configure CFLAGS='-g -O2'
-        ./configure CPPFLAGS='-g -O2'
+        ./configure CPPFLAGS='-DDEBUG_MY_FEATURE'
 
 Run ./configure --help to see other configuration options
 
+Please be aware that the Python library will ignore the --prefix option
+and just install wherever Python's distutils puts it (usually along
+the lines of /usr/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages/).  DESTDIR is respected.
+
 Make thrift:
 
 	make
diff --git a/lib/py/Makefile.am b/lib/py/Makefile.am
index 27d1115..24c5892 100644
--- a/lib/py/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/py/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 DESTDIR ?= /
 
+# We're ignoring prefix here because site-packages seems to be
+# the equivalent of /usr/local/lib in Python land.
+# Old version (can't put inline because it's not portable).
+#$(PYTHON) setup.py install --prefix=$(prefix) --root=$(DESTDIR) $(PYTHON_SETUPUTIL_ARGS)
 install-exec-hook:
-	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --prefix=$(prefix) --root=$(DESTDIR) $(PYTHON_SETUPUTIL_ARGS)
+	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --root=$(DESTDIR) $(PYTHON_SETUPUTIL_ARGS)