diff --git a/data/pkgconfig/meson.build b/data/pkgconfig/meson.build
index 3bacf301..079e3987 100644
--- a/data/pkgconfig/meson.build
+++ b/data/pkgconfig/meson.build
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ pkg_conf = configuration_data()
 prefix = get_option('prefix')
 pkg_conf.set('prefix', prefix)
 pkg_conf.set('VERSION', meson.project_version())
-pkg_conf.set('hexchatlibdir', join_paths(prefix, plugindir))
-pkg_conf.set('includedir', join_paths(prefix, get_option('includedir')))
+pkg_conf.set('hexchatlibdir', join_paths('${prefix}', plugindir))
+pkg_conf.set('includedir', join_paths('${prefix}', get_option('includedir')))
 
 configure_file(
   input: 'hexchat-plugin.pc.in',