diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e004eb30be..dbc9ce2b08 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@
 
 objects = network_utilities.o sha1.o base64.o md5.o uri.o hybi_header.o data.o
 
-BOOST_LIB_PATH		?= /usr/local/lib
-BOOST_INCLUDE_PATH  ?= /usr/local/include
+BOOST_PREFIX ?= /usr/local
+BOOST_LIB_PATH		?= $(BOOST_PREFIX)/lib
+BOOST_INCLUDE_PATH  ?= $(BOOST_PREFIX)/include
 
 libs = -L$(BOOST_LIB_PATH) -lboost_system -lboost_date_time -lboost_regex -lboost_random -lboost_program_options -lboost_thread