diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
index 1d57dc507319..879feb28d705 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
@@ -262,10 +262,10 @@ kernel-tags:
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
 	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
-		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		echo "You must set up a ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints file first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
-	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints ${DESTDIR}/boot/defaults/loader.conf ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
 		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386 b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
index c7a44b3c12e3..c871f52773b3 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
@@ -217,10 +217,10 @@ kernel-tags:
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
 	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
-		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		echo "You must set up a ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints file first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
-	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints ${DESTDIR}/boot/defaults/loader.conf ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
 		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98 b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
index f593e09a2b08..0d93180819a9 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ kernel-tags:
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
 	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
-		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		echo "You must set up a ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints file first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
-	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints ${DESTDIR}/boot/defaults/loader.conf ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
 		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
index c7a44b3c12e3..c871f52773b3 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
@@ -217,10 +217,10 @@ kernel-tags:
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
 	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
-		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		echo "You must set up a ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints file first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi
-	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints ${DESTDIR}/boot/defaults/loader.conf ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
 		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
 	fi