diff --git a/cde/programs/dtcm/dtcm/Makefile.am b/cde/programs/dtcm/dtcm/Makefile.am
index 60ccc8d7b..af7462c05 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtcm/dtcm/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/programs/dtcm/dtcm/Makefile.am
@@ -42,4 +42,4 @@ dtcm_editor_SOURCES = datefield.c     deskset.c       dssw.c \
 		      reminders.c     rfp.c
 
 install-exec-hook:
-	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 -d $(DESTDIR)/var/spool/calendar
+	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 -d $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/spool/calendar
diff --git a/cde/programs/dtsearchpath/dtappg/Makefile.am b/cde/programs/dtsearchpath/dtappg/Makefile.am
index 22f5c54f2..45c45924a 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtsearchpath/dtappg/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/programs/dtsearchpath/dtappg/Makefile.am
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@ dtappgather_SOURCES = Options.C dtappgather.C dtappgather.h Options.h
 
 # can't use INSTALL here as the program is already installed
 install-exec-hook:
-	chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtappgather
-	chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtappgather
+	-chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtappgather
+	-chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtappgather
diff --git a/cde/programs/dtsession/Makefile.am b/cde/programs/dtsession/Makefile.am
index 22834c7a1..04073cf17 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtsession/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/programs/dtsession/Makefile.am
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ sys.session.ive: sys.session.src
 
 install-exec-hook:
 if !HAS_PAM_LIBRARY
-	chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtsession
-	chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtsession
+	-chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtsession
+	-chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtsession
 endif
 
diff --git a/cde/programs/dtterm/Makefile.am b/cde/programs/dtterm/Makefile.am
index 9f128e6a2..691b88a71 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtterm/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/programs/dtterm/Makefile.am
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ dtterm.ti: terminfoChecklist
 
 install-exec-hook:
 if !HAS_UTEMPTER_LIBRARY
-	chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtterm
-	chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtterm
+	-chown root $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtterm
+	-chmod 4755 $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/dtterm
 endif
 	@TIC@ dtterm.ti