--- a/py_build.py
+++ b/py_build.py
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ def write_pkgcore_lookup_configs(cleanup_files):
     with open(path, "w") as f:
         os.chmod(path, 0o644)
         f.write(textwrap.dedent("""\
-            from os.path import join, abspath
+            from os.path import abspath, exists, join
             import sys
 
-            from snakeoil import process
-
             INSTALL_PREFIX = abspath(sys.prefix)
+            if not exists(join(INSTALL_PREFIX, 'lib/pkgcore')):
+                INSTALL_PREFIX = abspath(sys.base_prefix)
             DATA_PATH = join(INSTALL_PREFIX, 'share/pkgcore')
             CONFIG_PATH = join(DATA_PATH, 'config')
             LIBDIR_PATH = join(INSTALL_PREFIX, 'lib/pkgcore')