diff -up hdf-4.2.12/hdf/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir hdf-4.2.12/hdf/examples/Makefile.am
--- hdf-4.2.12/hdf/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir	2017-01-31 14:41:51.947802481 -0700
+++ hdf-4.2.12/hdf/examples/Makefile.am	2017-01-31 14:42:34.883572782 -0700
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ INSTALL_TOP_SCRIPT_FILES = run-all-ex.sh
 INSTALL_TOP_FILES = README
 
 # Where to install example files
-EXAMPLEDIR=${DESTDIR}$(prefix)/examples/c
-EXAMPLETOPDIR=${DESTDIR}$(prefix)/examples
+EXAMPLEDIR=$(docdir)/examples/c
+EXAMPLETOPDIR=$(docdir)/examples
 
 # How to build C programs using h4cc
 $(EXTRA_PROG): $(H4CC)
diff -up hdf-4.2.12/hdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir hdf-4.2.12/hdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am
--- hdf-4.2.12/hdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir	2017-01-31 14:41:51.949802471 -0700
+++ hdf-4.2.12/hdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am	2017-01-31 14:43:07.968395906 -0700
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ INSTALL_FILES= VD_read_from_vdata.f VD_r
 INSTALL_SCRIPT_FILES = run-fortran-ex.sh
 
 # Where to install Fortran example files
-EXAMPLEDIR=${DESTDIR}$(prefix)/examples/fortran
+EXAMPLEDIR=$(docdir)/examples/fortran
 
 # How to build Fortran programs using h4fc
 $(EXTRA_PROG): $(H4FC)
diff -up hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/examples/Makefile.am
--- hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir	2017-01-31 14:41:51.950802465 -0700
+++ hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/examples/Makefile.am	2017-01-31 14:43:23.376314066 -0700
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ INSTALL_FILES = SD_create_sds.c SD_write
 	SD_get_info.c SD_find_sds_by_name.c SD_set_get_dim_info.c        \
 	SD_dimscale_vs_sds.c SD_set_attr.c SD_get_attr.c SD_chunking_example.c
 
-EXAMPLEDIR=${DESTDIR}$(prefix)/examples/c
+EXAMPLEDIR=$(docdir)/examples/c
 
 # How to build programs using h4cc
 $(EXTRA_PROG): $(H4CC)
diff -up hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am
--- hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am.examplesdir	2017-01-31 14:41:51.952802455 -0700
+++ hdf-4.2.12/mfhdf/fortran/examples/Makefile.am	2017-01-31 14:43:40.206224672 -0700
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ INSTALL_FILES=SD_create_sds.f SD_write_t
 	SD_set_attr.f SD_get_attr.f SD_compress_sds.f SD_chunking_example.f
 
 # Where to install example files
-EXAMPLEDIR=${DESTDIR}$(prefix)/examples/fortran
+EXAMPLEDIR=$(docdir)/examples/fortran
 
 # How to build Fortran programs using h4fc
 $(EXTRA_PROG): $(H4FC)