--- config/Makefile.am
+++ config/Makefile.am
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 instsessdir = $(datadir)/xsessions
 initdir = $(gdmconfdir)/Init
 authdir = $(localstatedir)/gdm
-logdir = $(localstatedir)/log/gdm
+logdir = @logdir@
 gnomercdir = $(gdmconfdir)
 postdir = $(gdmconfdir)/PostSession
 predir = $(gdmconfdir)/PreSession
--- configure.ac
+++ configure.ac
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@
 #
 AC_SUBST(authdir, ${localstatedir}/gdm)
 AC_SUBST(gdmlocaledir, ${gdmconfdir})
-AC_SUBST(logdir, ${localstatedir}/log/gdm)
+AC_SUBST(logdir, /var/log/gdm)
 AC_SUBST(pixmapdir, ${datadir}/pixmaps)
 
 withval=""