diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index dcdada493c..cb1fefa0aa 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ distclean-local::
 
 if CONFIG_KERNEL
 install-data-local:
-	instdest=$(DESTDIR)/${prefix}/src/zfs-$(ZFS_META_VERSION); \
+	destname=zfs-$(ZFS_META_VERSION)/$(LINUX_VERSION); \
+	instdest=$(DESTDIR)/${prefix}/src/$$destname; \
+	echo "${ZFS_META_VERSION}" >$$instdest/zfs.release; \
 	for instfile in $(noinst_HEADERS) module/$(LINUX_SYMBOLS); do \
 		$(INSTALL) -D $$instfile $$instdest/$$instfile; \
 	done