diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index dcdb0be5..0dd1906f 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ src/version.h: .remake-version-h
 	$(AM_V_GEN) $(generate_ver); echo "$$ver" > $@
 src/main.c: src/version.h
 
-src/builtin.inc: src/builtin.jq
+src/builtin.inc: $(srcdir)/src/builtin.jq
 	mkdir -p src
-	$(AM_V_GEN) sed -e 's/\\/\\\\/g' -e 's/"/\\"/g' -e 's/^/"/' -e 's/$$/\\n"/' src/builtin.jq > $@
+	$(AM_V_GEN) sed -e 's/\\/\\\\/g' -e 's/"/\\"/g' -e 's/^/"/' -e 's/$$/\\n"/' $(srcdir)/src/builtin.jq > $@
 src/builtin.o: src/builtin.inc
 
 bin_PROGRAMS = jq