diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 0b97554..bb07b8f 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -49,10 +49,13 @@ Then follow the [Wayland](#usage-linux---wayland-only-gtklock) or [X11](#usage-l
 
 ```bash
 sudo pacman -S meson ninja rust gtk3 gstreamer gst-plugins-base gst-plugins-good gst-plugins-bad gtklock
-meson setup builddir && meson compile -C builddir
+meson setup builddir --prefix=/usr
+meson compile -C builddir
 sudo meson install -C builddir
 ```
 
+`--prefix=/usr` matches Arch conventions (same as pacman) and ensures the compiled-in default path for `ahfail-display` matches where it is installed.
+
 Installs:
 - `/usr/lib/gtklock/ahfail-module.so` — gtklock module
 - `/usr/lib/ahfail/libahfail_pam.so` — PAM module (for X11)