diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 3d30a0247..f0c80c9f2 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -66,21 +66,21 @@ BUILT_SOURCES += uicbgen.h
 EXTRA_DIST    += build-utils/uicbgen.sh
 uicbgen.h: $(awesome_SOURCES)
 	@echo "generating uicbgen.h from headers file"
-	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/uicbgen.sh > uicbgen.h
+	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/uicbgen.sh "$(top_srcdir)" > uicbgen.h
 
 CLEANFILES    += layoutgen.h
 BUILT_SOURCES += layoutgen.h
 EXTRA_DIST    += build-utils/layoutgen.sh
 layoutgen.h: $(awesome_SOURCES)
 	@echo "generating layoutgen.h from layouts headers file"
-	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/layoutgen.sh > layoutgen.h
+	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/layoutgen.sh "$(top_srcdir)" > layoutgen.h
 
 CLEANFILES    += widgetgen.h
 BUILT_SOURCES += widgetgen.h
 EXTRA_DIST    += build-utils/widgetgen.sh
 widgetgen.h: widget.h
 	@echo "generating widgetgen.h from widget.h"
-	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/widgetgen.sh > widgetgen.h
+	$(top_srcdir)/build-utils/widgetgen.sh "$(top_srcdir)" > widgetgen.h
 
 if USING_GCC
 # If you are using gcc, and want to deactivate this default set of
diff --git a/build-utils/layoutgen.sh b/build-utils/layoutgen.sh
index 9f4e10e1a..e772b4dc6 100755
--- a/build-utils/layoutgen.sh
+++ b/build-utils/layoutgen.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+top_srcdir="${1-.}"
 echo "/* This file is autogenerated by" $(basename $0) "*/"
 echo
 echo "const name_func_link_t LayoutList[] ="
 echo "{"
-for file in layouts/*.h
+for file in ${top_srcdir}/layouts/*.h
 do
     echo "    /* $file */"
     grep '^LayoutArrange layout_' $file | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d\; -f1 | while read layout
diff --git a/build-utils/uicbgen.sh b/build-utils/uicbgen.sh
index 59eb5c20c..744caa961 100755
--- a/build-utils/uicbgen.sh
+++ b/build-utils/uicbgen.sh
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+top_srcdir="${1-.}"
 echo "/* This file is autogenerated by" $(basename $0) "*/"
 echo
 echo "const name_func_link_t UicbList[] ="
 echo "{"
-for file in *.h layouts/*.h
+for file in ${top_srcdir}/*.h ${top_srcdir}/layouts/*.h
 do
     echo "    /* $file */"
     grep '^Uicb uicb_' $file | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d\; -f1 | while read uicb
     do
         shortname=$(echo $uicb | cut -d _ -f2-)
         echo "    {\"$shortname\", $uicb},"
-        grep -q "\*$shortname\*" awesomerc.1.txt || \
+        grep -q "\*$shortname\*" ${top_srcdir}/awesomerc.1.txt || \
             echo "  WARNING: $uicb NOT documented" >&2
     done
 done
diff --git a/build-utils/widgetgen.sh b/build-utils/widgetgen.sh
index d6a7e52a8..92fb3688c 100755
--- a/build-utils/widgetgen.sh
+++ b/build-utils/widgetgen.sh
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+top_srcdir="${1-.}"
 echo "/* This file is autogenerated by" $(basename $0) "*/"
 echo
 echo "const name_func_link_t WidgetList[] ="
 echo "{"
-for file in widget.h
+for file in ${top_srcdir}/widget.h
 do
     echo "    /* $file */"
-    grep '^WidgetConstructor ' widget.h | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d\; -f1 | while read widget
+    grep '^WidgetConstructor ' "$file" | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d\; -f1 | while read widget
     do
         shortname=$(echo $widget | cut -d_ -f1)
         echo "    {\"$shortname\", $widget},"
-        grep -q "^$shortname" awesomerc.1.txt || \
+        grep -q "^$shortname" ${top_srcdir}/awesomerc.1.txt || \
             echo "  WARNING: $uicb NOT documented" >&2
     done
 done