diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 3485e25..afaf829 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ help:
 	echo "which is currently set to ${PREFIX}"
 	echo "run: make install to make that happen."
 
-install: zpp
+install: ${PREFIX}/zpp
+
+${PREFIX}/zpp: zpp
 	mkdir -p ${PREFIX}
-	install --backup=numbered -t ${PREFIX} zpp
+	install --backup=numbered $< $@