diff --git a/lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb b/lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb
index 33242785d..861568bc0 100644
--- a/lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb
+++ b/lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb
@@ -474,6 +474,7 @@ def output(output_path)
 
     args += [
       "--buildroot", "#{build_path}/BUILD",
+      "--define", "buildroot #{build_path}/BUILD",
       "--define", "_topdir #{build_path}",
       "--define", "_sourcedir #{build_path}",
       "--define", "_rpmdir #{build_path}/RPMS",