diff --git a/examples/c/reccalc/local.mk b/examples/c/reccalc/local.mk
index 85296b83..2fc2bccb 100644
--- a/examples/c/reccalc/local.mk
+++ b/examples/c/reccalc/local.mk
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ DASH = -
 	$(AM_V_LEX)rm -f $@ $@.tmp
 	$(AM_V_at)$(MKDIR_P) %D%
 	$(AM_V_at)touch $@.tmp
-	$(AM_V_at) $(LEX) -o %D%/scan.c --header-file=%D%/scan.h $<
+	$(AM_V_at)$(LEX) -o%D%/scan.c --header-file=%D%/scan.h $(srcdir)/%D%/scan.l
 	$(AM_V_at)mv $@.tmp $@
 
 # Don't use gnulib's system headers.
diff --git a/examples/d/local.mk b/examples/d/local.mk
index 1d8cd51a..8b701efe 100644
--- a/examples/d/local.mk
+++ b/examples/d/local.mk
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST += %D%/calc.test
 
 %D%/calc.d: %D%/calc.y $(dependencies)
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) %D%
-	$(AM_V_at)$(BISON) $< -o $@
+	$(AM_V_at)$(BISON) $(srcdir)/%D%/calc.y -o $@
 
 %D%/calc: %D%/calc.d
-	$(AM_V_GEN) $(DC) $(DCFLAGS) -of$@ $<
+	$(AM_V_GEN) $(DC) $(DCFLAGS) -of$@ $(srcdir)/%D%/calc.d
 
 dist_d_DATA = %D%/calc.y %D%/Makefile %D%/README.md
 CLEANFILES += %D%/calc %D%/calc.[do]
diff --git a/examples/java/local.mk b/examples/java/local.mk
index b9bcebf5..3ea0cc33 100644
--- a/examples/java/local.mk
+++ b/examples/java/local.mk
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST += %D%/Calc.test
 
 %D%/Calc.java: %D%/Calc.y $(dependencies)
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) %D%
-	$(AM_V_at)$(BISON) $< -o $@
+	$(AM_V_at)$(BISON) $(srcdir)/%D%/Calc.y -o $@
 
 %D%/Calc.class: %D%/Calc.java
-	$(AM_V_GEN) $(SHELL) $(top_builddir)/javacomp.sh $<
+	$(AM_V_GEN) $(SHELL) $(top_builddir)/javacomp.sh $(srcdir)/%D%/Calc.java
 
 dist_java_DATA = %D%/Calc.y %D%/Makefile %D%/README.md
 CLEANFILES += %D%/*.class %D%/Calc.java