diff --git a/utils/mapnik-config/build.py b/utils/mapnik-config/build.py
index 987dd259c..7f9e1c903 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-config/build.py
+++ b/utils/mapnik-config/build.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ cxxflags = ' '.join(config_env['LIBMAPNIK_CXXFLAGS'])
 
 defines = ' '.join(config_env['LIBMAPNIK_DEFINES'])
 
-dep_includes = ''.join([' -I%s' % i for i in config_env['CPPPATH'] if not i.startswith('#')])
+dep_includes = ''.join([' -I${NODE_CONFIG_PREFIX:-""}%s' % i for i in config_env['CPPPATH'] if not i.startswith('#')])
 
 dep_includes += ' '