use top_srcdir, top_builddir, abs_top_srcdir or abs_top_builddir only if needed The build system runs primarily in the top-level directory now, so unless a Make rule changes the working directory before referencing a file, it is not necessary to use the abs_top_X or top_X directory names. * Makefile.am, build-aux/common.mk, doc/module.mk, libgui/graphics/module.mk, libgui/module.mk, libgui/src/module.mk, libinterp/corefcn/module.mk, libinterp/module.mk, liboctave/cruft/module.mk, liboctave/cruft/ranlib/module.mk, liboctave/module.mk, liboctave/numeric/module.mk liboctave/operators/module.mk, scripts/module.mk, src/module.mk: Only use Use $(top_srcdir), $(top_builddir), $(abs_top_srcdir), and $(abs_top_builddir) if necessary.

--- a/Makefile.am	Wed Feb 17 11:35:42 2016 -0500
+++ b/Makefile.am	Wed Feb 17 13:32:44 2016 -0500
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@
 	chmod a+rx "$@"
 
 octave-config.h: config.h build-aux/mk-octave-config-h.sh
-	$(AM_V_GEN)$(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/build-aux/mk-octave-config-h.sh $< > $@-t && \
+	$(AM_V_GEN)$(SHELL) $(srcdir)/build-aux/mk-octave-config-h.sh $< > $@-t && \
 	mv $@-t $@
 
 bits/stl_algo.h: build-aux/stl_algo.h-fixed