diff --git a/acx_nlnetlabs.m4 b/acx_nlnetlabs.m4
index 0d91b16d4..314784ff0 100644
--- a/acx_nlnetlabs.m4
+++ b/acx_nlnetlabs.m4
@@ -539,6 +539,17 @@ if test "x$enable_rpath" = xno; then
 fi
 ])
 
+dnl Add a -R to the RUNTIME_PATH.  Only if rpath is enabled and it is
+dnl an absolute path.
+dnl $1: the pathname to add.
+AC_DEFUN([ACX_RUNTIME_PATH_ADD], [
+	if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
+		if echo "$1" | grep "^/" >/dev/null; then
+			RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$1"
+		fi
+	fi
+])
+
 dnl Check for SSL. 
 dnl Adds --with-ssl option, searches for openssl and defines HAVE_SSL if found
 dnl Setup of CPPFLAGS, CFLAGS.  Adds -lcrypto to LIBS. 
@@ -580,9 +591,7 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(ssl, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-ssl=pathname],
 	    dnl assume /usr is already in the lib and dynlib paths.
 	    if test "$ssldir" != "/usr"; then
                 LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$ssldir/lib"
-	        if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	            RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$ssldir/lib"
-	        fi
+		ACX_RUNTIME_PATH_ADD([$ssldir/lib])
 	    fi
 	
 	    AC_MSG_CHECKING([for HMAC_CTX_init in -lcrypto])
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 1a154072c..558df4867 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -23449,9 +23449,13 @@ $as_echo "found in $ssldir" >&6; }
             HAVE_SSL=yes
 	    	    if test "$ssldir" != "/usr"; then
                 LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$ssldir/lib"
-	        if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	            RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$ssldir/lib"
-	        fi
+
+	if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
+		if echo "$ssldir/lib" | grep "^/" >/dev/null; then
+			RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$ssldir/lib"
+		fi
+	fi
+
 	    fi
 
 	    { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for HMAC_CTX_init in -lcrypto" >&5
@@ -25151,6 +25155,8 @@ if test "$ac_res" != no; then
 fi
 
 
+
+
 # check for libevent
 
 # Check whether --with-libevent was given.
@@ -25182,6 +25188,7 @@ $as_echo_n "checking for libevent... " >&6; }
             		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: found in $thedir" >&5
 $as_echo "found in $thedir" >&6; }
                 	CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -I$thedir -I$thedir/include"
+			BAK_LDFLAGS_SET="1"
 			BAK_LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS"
 			# remove evdns from linking
 			mkdir build >/dev/null 2>&1
@@ -25211,12 +25218,15 @@ large outgoing port ranges.  " >&2;}
 $as_echo "found in $thedir" >&6; }
 	    	    if test "$thedir" != "/usr"; then
                 LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$thedir/lib"
-	        if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	            RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$thedir/lib"
-	        fi
+
+	if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
+		if echo "$thedir/lib" | grep "^/" >/dev/null; then
+			RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$thedir/lib"
+		fi
+	fi
+
 	    fi
         fi
-
 	# check for library used by libevent after 1.3c
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for library containing clock_gettime" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for library containing clock_gettime... " >&6; }
@@ -25954,7 +25964,7 @@ _ACEOF
 fi
 done
  # only in libev. (tested on 3.51)
-	if test -n "$BAK_LDFLAGS"; then
+	if test -n "$BAK_LDFLAGS_SET"; then
 		LDFLAGS="$BAK_LDFLAGS"
 	fi
 else
@@ -29207,9 +29217,13 @@ if test "${with_ldns+set}" = set; then
   withval=$with_ldns;  specialldnsdir="$withval"
 	CPPFLAGS="-I$withval/include $CPPFLAGS"
 	LDFLAGS="-L$withval -L$withval/lib $LDFLAGS"
+
 	if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	    RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$withval/lib"
+		if echo "$withval/lib" | grep "^/" >/dev/null; then
+			RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$withval/lib"
+		fi
 	fi
+
 	ldnsdir="$withval"
 
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 04fb9bc00..e1ca0bdf3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -346,6 +346,8 @@ fi
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([inet_pton], [nsl])
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([socket], [socket])
 
+AC_SUBST(RUNTIME_PATH)
+
 # check for libevent
 AC_ARG_WITH(libevent, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-libevent=pathname],
     [use libevent (will check /usr/local /opt/local /usr/lib /usr/pkg /usr/sfw /usr  or you can specify an explicit path). Slower, but allows use of large outgoing port ranges.]),
@@ -371,6 +373,7 @@ if test x_$withval = x_yes -o x_$withval != x_no; then
 			# libevent source directory
             		AC_MSG_RESULT(found in $thedir)
                 	CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -I$thedir -I$thedir/include"
+			BAK_LDFLAGS_SET="1"
 			BAK_LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS"
 			# remove evdns from linking
 			mkdir build >/dev/null 2>&1
@@ -395,12 +398,9 @@ large outgoing port ranges.  ])
 	    dnl assume /usr is in default path.
 	    if test "$thedir" != "/usr"; then
                 LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$thedir/lib"
-	        if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	            RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$thedir/lib"
-	        fi
+		ACX_RUNTIME_PATH_ADD([$thedir/lib])
 	    fi
         fi
-	AC_SUBST(RUNTIME_PATH)
 	# check for library used by libevent after 1.3c
 	AC_SEARCH_LIBS([clock_gettime], [rt])
 
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ large outgoing port ranges.  ])
 	AC_CHECK_FUNCS([event_base_new]) # only in libevent 1.4.1 and later
 	AC_CHECK_FUNCS([event_base_get_method]) # only in libevent 1.4.3 and later
 	AC_CHECK_FUNCS([ev_loop]) # only in libev. (tested on 3.51)
-	if test -n "$BAK_LDFLAGS"; then
+	if test -n "$BAK_LDFLAGS_SET"; then
 		LDFLAGS="$BAK_LDFLAGS"
 	fi
 else
@@ -498,9 +498,7 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(ldns, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-ldns=PATH],
 	[ specialldnsdir="$withval"
 	CPPFLAGS="-I$withval/include $CPPFLAGS"
 	LDFLAGS="-L$withval -L$withval/lib $LDFLAGS"
-	if test "x$enable_rpath" = xyes; then
-	    RUNTIME_PATH="$RUNTIME_PATH -R$withval/lib"
-	fi
+	ACX_RUNTIME_PATH_ADD([$withval/lib])
 	ldnsdir="$withval"
 	AC_SUBST(ldnsdir)
 ])
diff --git a/doc/Changelog b/doc/Changelog
index 4774dd951..41e3a1221 100644
--- a/doc/Changelog
+++ b/doc/Changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+30 March 2009: Wouter
+	- Fixup LDFLAGS from libevent sourcedir compile configure restore.
+	- Fixup so no non-absolute rpaths are added.
+
 27 March 2009: Wouter
 	- nicer -h output. report linked libraries and modules.
 	- prints modules in intuitive order (config file friendly).