diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index c897d1e9c..85c016d8c 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ endif
 
 %.pb.cc %.pb.h: %.proto
 	@test -f $(PROTOC)
-	$(AM_V_GEN) $(PROTOC) --cpp_out=$(@D) --proto_path=$(abspath $(<D) $<)
+	$(AM_V_GEN) $(PROTOC) --cpp_out=$(@D) --proto_path=$(<D) $<
 
 if EMBEDDED_LEVELDB
 include Makefile.leveldb.include