diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index ab30263779..dc28138320 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
 dist_EXTRA_tmux_SOURCES = compat/*.[ch]
 
 # Preprocessor flags.
-AM_CPPFLAGS += @XOPEN_DEFINES@ -DTMUX_CONF="\"$(sysconfdir)/tmux.conf\""
+AM_CPPFLAGS += @XOPEN_DEFINES@
+AM_CPPFLAGS += -DTMUX_CONF="\"$(sysconfdir)/tmux.conf:~/.tmux.conf:~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf\""
 
 # Additional object files.
 LDADD = $(LIBOBJS)