diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ae1d0220..52a1c142 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -120,8 +120,34 @@ install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ebml_export.h DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INST
 if(NOT DISABLE_PKGCONFIG)
   set(prefix ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX})
   set(exec_prefix "\$\{prefix\}")
-  set(libdir "\$\{prefix\}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
-  set(includedir "\$\{prefix\}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+  if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_LESS "3.20.0")
+    get_filename_component(absdir ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR} ABSOLUTE)
+    if (absdir STREQUAL CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR)
+      set(abs_libdir ON)
+    else()
+      set(abs_libdir OFF)
+    endif()
+    get_filename_component(absdir ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR} ABSOLUTE)
+    if (absdir STREQUAL CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR)
+      set(abs_incdir ON)
+    else()
+      set(abs_incdir OFF)
+    endif()
+  else()
+    cmake_path(IS_ABSOLUTE CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR abs_libdir)
+    cmake_path(IS_ABSOLUTE CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR abs_incdir)
+  endif()
+  if (${abs_libdir})
+    set(libdir "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+  else()
+    message(STATUS "using relative \$\{prefix\}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+    set(libdir "\$\{prefix\}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+  endif()
+  if (${abs_incdir})
+    set(includedir "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+  else()
+    set(includedir "\$\{prefix\}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+  endif()
   set(PACKAGE_VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION})
   if (HAVE_WINAPIFAMILY_H)
     set(WINAPIFAMILY_PC -DHAVE_WINAPIFAMILY_H)