diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 85e225c0d5..9a410ba2bd 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ endif
 
 ###############################################################################
 
+nm_build_cflags = \
+	-DNM_BUILD_SRCDIR=\"$(abs_srcdir)\" \
+	-DNM_BUILD_BUILDDIR=\"$(abs_builddir)\" \
+	$(NULL)
+
 set_sanitizer_env = \
 	[ -n "$(SANITIZER_ENV)" ] && export $(SANITIZER_ENV) ; \
 	if echo $(SANITIZER_LIB_CFLAGS) $(SANITIZER_EXEC_CFLAGS) | grep -e -fsanitize=address > /dev/null; then \
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ff87b31e7d..8afe57d140 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ nm_pkgstatedir = join_paths(nm_localstatedir, nm_name)
 nm_vpndir = join_paths(nm_libdir, nm_name)
 nm_plugindir = join_paths(nm_libdir, nm_name, dist_version)
 
+nm_build_cflags = [
+  '-DNM_BUILD_SRCDIR="@0@"'.format(meson.source_root()),
+  '-DNM_BUILD_BUILDDIR="@0@"'.format(meson.build_root()),
+]
+
 libnm_name = 'libnm'
 
 current = 1