--- setup.py
+++ setup.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
   ext_modules = [cairo],
   data_files = [
     ('include/pycairo', ['src/pycairo.h']),
-    ('lib/pkgconfig', [pkgconfig_file]),
+    (os.environ.get('PKGCONFIG_DIR', 'lib/pkgconfig'), [pkgconfig_file]),
     (os.path.join(dsy.get_python_lib(), 'cairo'),
      ['src/__init__.py']),
     ],