diff --git a/configure b/configure
index a4d724efae..8164badeba 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -5722,6 +5722,8 @@ fi
 if [ "$PLATFORM_MAC" = "yes" ]; then
     if [ "$CFG_RPATH" = "yes" ]; then
        QMAKE_CONFIG="$QMAKE_CONFIG absolute_library_soname"
+       # set the default rpath to the library installation directory
+       RPATH_FLAGS="\"$QT_INSTALL_LIBS\" $RPATH_FLAGS"
     fi
 elif [ -z "`getXQMakeConf 'QMAKE_(LFLAGS_)?RPATH'`" ]; then
     if [ -n "$RPATH_FLAGS" ]; then