diff --git a/include/wx/utils.h b/include/wx/utils.h
index 0235857076..a737731cac 100644
--- a/include/wx/utils.h
+++ b/include/wx/utils.h
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ WXDLLEXPORT int wxGetOsVersion(int *majorVsn = (int *) NULL,
 // Return a string with the current date/time
 WXDLLEXPORT wxString wxNow();
 
+// Return path where wxWindows is installed (mostly useful in Unices)
+WXDLLEXPORT const wxChar *wxGetInstallPrefix();
+
+
 #if wxUSE_GUI
 // Don't synthesize KeyUp events holding down a key and producing
 // KeyDown events with autorepeat. On by default and always on
diff --git a/src/common/utilscmn.cpp b/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
index f9f3116ca3..a294d53d5d 100644
--- a/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
@@ -1072,6 +1072,21 @@ bool wxSetDetectableAutoRepeat( bool WXUNUSED(flag) )
 
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
 
+const wxChar *wxGetInstallPrefix()
+{
+    wxString prefix;
+    
+    if ( wxGetEnv(wxT("WX_PREFIX"), &prefix) )
+        return prefix.c_str();
+    
+#ifdef wxINSTALL_PREFIX
+    return wxT(wxINSTALL_PREFIX);
+#else 
+    return wxT("");
+#endif
+}
+
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // network and user id functions
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp b/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
index 73ee7231f0..701c26e46f 100644
--- a/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
@@ -2034,7 +2034,7 @@ void wxPostScriptDC::DoGetTextExtent(const wxString& string,
            - afmFile = fopen() may fail and in that case the next if branch
            MUST be executed - and it would not if there was "else" */
         {
-           afmName = wxINSTALL_PREFIX;
+           afmName = wxGetInstallPrefix();
            afmName <<  wxFILE_SEP_PATH
                    << wxT("share") << wxFILE_SEP_PATH
                    << wxT("wx") << wxFILE_SEP_PATH