To build and install everything under a private directory, run: make DESTDIR=~/obj install install-pywrap To install as the default system libraries and binaries (overwriting any previously installed ones - dangerous!), on x86_64, run: make LIBDIR=/usr/lib64 SHLIBDIR=/lib64 install install-pywrap relabel or on x86 (32-bit), run: make install install-pywrap relabel This may render your system unusable if the upstream SELinux userspace lacks library functions or other dependencies relied upon by your distribution. If it breaks, you get to keep both pieces.