diff --git a/camlibs/Makefile.am b/camlibs/Makefile.am
index 01a289cfa0..dcb27f2e08 100644
--- a/camlibs/Makefile.am
+++ b/camlibs/Makefile.am
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ camlib_ldflags      += -export-symbols '$(top_srcdir)/camlibs/camlib.sym'
 camlib_ldflags += -rpath '$(camlibdir)'
 
 camlib_libadd =
-camlib_libadd += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la
-camlib_libadd += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+camlib_libadd += $(libgphoto2_la)
+camlib_libadd += $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 
 camlib_cflags  =
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 55ddce2b98..121e4e17d2 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -680,6 +680,16 @@ CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS_save"
 ], [], [default-on], [https://github.com/libexif/libexif])dnl
 
 
+dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+dnl Make it easier to possibly move the libraries around
+dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+AC_SUBST([libgphoto2_port_la],
+         ['${top_builddir}/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la'])
+AC_SUBST([libgphoto2_la],
+         ['${top_builddir}/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la'])
+
+
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 dnl Configure subprojects
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index 43a4f49cf8..0b0a0bcb13 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ best_iso_SOURCES = best-iso.c
 sample_justfocus_SOURCES = samples.h sample-justfocus.c context.c focus.c
 # sample_libfuzz_SOURCES = samples.h sample-libfuzz.c context.c autodetect.c
 
-LDADD = $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+LDADD = \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS) \
 	$(INTLLIBS)
diff --git a/libgphoto2/Makefile.am b/libgphoto2/Makefile.am
index a3328d56d8..2836e05274 100644
--- a/libgphoto2/Makefile.am
+++ b/libgphoto2/Makefile.am
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ libgphoto2_la_LDFLAGS      += -export-symbols $(srcdir)/libgphoto2.sym
 
 libgphoto2_la_LDFLAGS      += -version-info @LIBGPHOTO2_VERSION_INFO@
 
-libgphoto2_la_LIBADD       += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+libgphoto2_la_LIBADD       += $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 
 # The libtool docs describe these params, but they don't build.
 #	"-dlopen" self \
diff --git a/libgphoto2_port/Makefile.am b/libgphoto2_port/Makefile.am
index 8f783057fb..ecc531e728 100644
--- a/libgphoto2_port/Makefile.am
+++ b/libgphoto2_port/Makefile.am
@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ iolib_LTLIBRARIES = $(IOLIB_LTLIST)
 ########################################################################
 # Define the compile/link/etc. flags common to all iolibs in one place,
 # i.e. here.
-iolib_dependencies = $(top_srcdir)/iolib.sym
+iolib_dependencies = $(top_srcdir)/iolib.sym $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 iolib_ldflags = -module -no-undefined -avoid-version \
 	-export-dynamic \
         -export-symbols $(top_srcdir)/iolib.sym \
 	-rpath '$(iolibdir)'
-iolib_libadd = $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+iolib_libadd = $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 
 AM_CPPFLAGS += -I$(top_srcdir)
 
diff --git a/libgphoto2_port/configure.ac b/libgphoto2_port/configure.ac
index ddb160d387..9867432bc7 100644
--- a/libgphoto2_port/configure.ac
+++ b/libgphoto2_port/configure.ac
@@ -615,6 +615,14 @@ AC_SUBST([AM_CXXFLAGS])
 AC_SUBST([AM_LDFLAGS])
 
 
+dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+dnl Make it easier to possibly move the libraries around
+dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+AC_SUBST([libgphoto2_port_la],
+         ['${top_builddir}/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la'])
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Create output files
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/libgphoto2_port/tests/Makefile.am b/libgphoto2_port/tests/Makefile.am
index 7b89036453..a682e24b0a 100644
--- a/libgphoto2_port/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/libgphoto2_port/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS += -I$(top_srcdir)
 noinst_PROGRAMS += test-gp-port
 test_gp_port_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(LTDLINCL) $(CPPFLAGS)
 test_gp_port_SOURCES = test-gp-port.c
-test_gp_port_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+test_gp_port_LDADD = $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 test_gp_port_LDADD += $(LIBLTDL) $(INTLLIBS)
 
 TESTS += test-port-list
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ check_PROGRAMS += test-port-list
 noinst_PROGRAMS += test-port-list
 test_port_list_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(LTDLINCL) $(CPPFLAGS)
 test_port_list_SOURCES = test-port-list.c
-test_port_list_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+test_port_list_LDADD = $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 test_port_list_LDADD += $(LIBLTDL) $(INTLLIBS)
 
 include $(top_srcdir)/installcheck.mk
diff --git a/packaging/generic/Makefile.am b/packaging/generic/Makefile.am
index 0b547a23be..2e9482d98c 100644
--- a/packaging/generic/Makefile.am
+++ b/packaging/generic/Makefile.am
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS += -I$(top_srcdir) -I$(top_builddir)  -I$(top_srcdir)/libgphoto2_por
 
 print_camera_list_SOURCES = print-camera-list.c
 print_camera_list_LDADD = \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS)
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index d87bc3d61e..5e5a51c291 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ TESTS              += test-endian
 check_PROGRAMS     += test-endian
 test_endian_SOURCES = test-endian.c
 test_endian_LDADD   = \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS) \
 	$(INTLLIBS)
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ test_endian_LDADD   = \
 noinst_PROGRAMS                 += print-libgphoto2-version
 print_libgphoto2_version_SOURCES = print-libgphoto2-version.c
 print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD   =
-print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la
-print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(libgphoto2_la)
+print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(LIBLTDL)
 print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(LIBEXIF_LIBS)
 print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(INTLLIBS)
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ print_libgphoto2_version_LDADD  += $(INTLLIBS)
 noinst_PROGRAMS     += test-gphoto2
 test_gphoto2_SOURCES = test-gphoto2.c
 test_gphoto2_LDADD   = \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS) \
 	$(INTLLIBS)
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ test_gphoto2_LDADD   = \
 noinst_PROGRAMS    += test-filesys
 test_filesys_SOURCES = test-filesys.c
 test_filesys_LDADD   = \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS) \
 	$(INTLLIBS)
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ INSTALL_TESTS  += test-camera-list
 check_PROGRAMS         += test-camera-list
 test_camera_list_SOURCES = test-camera-list.c
 test_camera_list_LDADD   = \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la \
+	$(libgphoto2_la) \
+	$(libgphoto2_port_la) \
 	$(LIBLTDL) \
 	$(LIBEXIF_LIBS) \
 	$(INTLLIBS)
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ test_camera_list_LDADD   = \
 TESTS          += test-init-localedir
 check_PROGRAMS += test-init-localedir
 test_init_localedir_LDADD =
-test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2/libgphoto2.la
-test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(top_builddir)/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port/libgphoto2_port.la
+test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(libgphoto2_la)
+test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(libgphoto2_port_la)
 test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(LIBLTDL)
 test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(LIBEXIF_LIBS)
 test_init_localedir_LDADD += $(INTLLIBS)