diff --git a/bindings/python/build.py b/bindings/python/build.py
index 2c4846cc3..f65ff69f1 100644
--- a/bindings/python/build.py
+++ b/bindings/python/build.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ prefix = env['PREFIX']
 target_path = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik')
 target_path_deprecated = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik2')
 
-libraries = ['mapnik','png']
+libraries = ['mapnik']
+libraries.append('png')
 
 if env['JPEG']:
     libraries.append('jpeg')
@@ -122,22 +123,24 @@ else:
 paths = '''
 """Configuration paths of Mapnik fonts and input plugins (auto-generated by SCons)."""
 
-import os
+from os.path import normpath,join,dirname
 
 mapniklibpath = '%s'
+mapniklibpath = normpath(join(dirname(__file__),mapniklibpath))
 '''
 
-paths += "inputpluginspath = os.path.normpath(mapniklibpath + '/input')\n"
+paths += "inputpluginspath = join(mapniklibpath,'input')\n"
 
 if env['SYSTEM_FONTS']:
-    paths += "fontscollectionpath = os.path.normpath('%s')" % env['SYSTEM_FONTS']
+    paths += "fontscollectionpath = normpath('%s')\n" % env['SYSTEM_FONTS']
 else:
-    paths += "fontscollectionpath = os.path.normpath(mapniklibpath + '/fonts')"
+    paths += "fontscollectionpath = join(mapniklibpath,'fonts')\n"
 
+paths += "__all__ = [mapniklibpath,inputpluginspath,fontscollectionpath]\n"
 
 if not os.path.exists('mapnik'):
     os.mkdir('mapnik')
-file('mapnik/paths.py','w').write(paths % (env['MAPNIK_LIB_DIR']))
+file('mapnik/paths.py','w').write(paths % (os.path.relpath(env['MAPNIK_LIB_DIR'],target_path)))
 
 # force open perms temporarily so that `sudo scons install`
 # does not later break simple non-install non-sudo rebuild