diff --git a/config/meson.build b/config/meson.build
index 5ed4625d9e..3f89fd0768 100644
--- a/config/meson.build
+++ b/config/meson.build
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ Please install libnuma, or set 'max_numa_nodes' option to '1' to build without N
 endif
 
 # set the install path for the drivers
-dpdk_conf.set_quoted('RTE_EAL_PMD_PATH', eal_pmd_path)
+dpdk_conf.set_quoted('RTE_EAL_PMD_PATH', '')
 
 install_headers(['rte_config.h'],
         subdir: get_option('include_subdir_arch'))