Russell Shaw asked: > What "make" variable can i utilize that has a value > dependent on whether the package is installed or not?
If you need this distinction only in the tests, you can use the Makefile.am variable TESTS_ENVIRONMENT to set an environment variable. Like this: In tests/Makefile.am TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = MY_LIB_DIR=\"$(top_builddir)/src/libdir\" and in your code: my_lib_dir = getenv ("MY_LIB_DIR"); if (my_lib_dir == NULL || my_lib_dir[0] == '\0') my_lib_dir = LIBDIR; If your program is also being used uninstalled, other than for the tests, a wrapper script, like Ralf Wildenhues suggested, is the easiest solution. Bruno