diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/msn-pecan/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/msn-pecan/default.nix
index 3b8cdd7a8cc..45214944309 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/msn-pecan/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/msn-pecan/default.nix
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.linux;
   };
 
-  makeFlags = "PURPLE_LIBDIR=lib PURPLE_DATADIR=share/data DESTDIR=$$out";
-  preInstall = "mkdir -p \$out/share";
-  postInstall = "ln -s \$out/lib/purple-2 \$out/share/pidgin-msn-pecan";
+  makeFlags = [
+    "PURPLE_LIBDIR=${placeholder "out"}/lib"
+    "PURPLE_DATADIR=${placeholder "out"}/share/data"
+  ];
 
   buildInputs = [pidgin];
 }