diff --git a/deployment/macos/CMakeLists.txt b/deployment/macos/CMakeLists.txt
index b593abfb984f07799d2d4628e9b06d390b1327f8..0183d8ec8ec09181350a76f15b0eb29ec3292d6a 100644
--- a/deployment/macos/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/deployment/macos/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ set (CPACK_BUNDLE_ICON ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/graphics/icon.icns)
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_INSTALL_DIRECTORY "openstructure ${OST_VERSION_STRING}" )
 install(CODE "
   if(NOT ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX} STREQUAL \${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX})
+    set(LIB_DIR ${LIB_DIR}) #pass libdir variable in install code block
     set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake_support)
     include(CopyDependencies)