diff --git a/depends/config.site.in b/depends/config.site.in
index 87a33793037..d6835a2d858 100644
--- a/depends/config.site.in
+++ b/depends/config.site.in
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-depends_prefix="`dirname ${ac_site_file}`/.."
+depends_prefix="$(cd "$(dirname ${ac_site_file})/.." && pwd)"
 
 cross_compiling=maybe
 host_alias=@HOST@