diff --git a/python/setup.py.in b/python/setup.py.in
index 813dfc9..798cfe5 100644
--- a/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/python/setup.py.in
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ from distutils.core import setup, Extension
 
 opts = ['-O', '-nodefaultctor']
 include = ['@top_builddir@/include']
+library_dirs = ['@top_builddir@/lib/.libs']
 
 netlink_capi = Extension('netlink/_capi',
                          sources = ['netlink/capi.i'],
 			 include_dirs = include,
 			 swig_opts = opts,
+			 library_dirs = library_dirs,
 			 libraries = ['nl-3'],
 			)
 
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ route_capi = Extension('netlink/route/_capi',
                          sources = ['netlink/route/capi.i'],
 			 include_dirs = include,
 			 swig_opts = opts,
+			 library_dirs = library_dirs,
 			 libraries = ['nl-3', 'nl-route-3'],
 			)
 
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ genl_capi = Extension('netlink/genl/_capi',
 			 sources = ['netlink/genl/capi.i'],
 			 include_dirs = include,
 			 swig_opts = opts,
+			 library_dirs = library_dirs,
 			 libraries = ['nl-3', 'nl-genl-3'],
 			)