diff --git a/package/base/zlib/zlib.conf b/package/base/zlib/zlib.conf
index 0413c4bce..85f647c45 100644
--- a/package/base/zlib/zlib.conf
+++ b/package/base/zlib/zlib.conf
@@ -24,17 +24,15 @@ prefix=''
 set_confopt
 
 zlib_pm() {
-	# craete a static version
+	# create a static version
 	make libz.a
 	cp -v libz.a $libdir
-	[ ! -d $mandir/man3 ] && \
-		mkdir -p $mandir/man3
-	cp -v zlib.3 $mandir/man3/
 	cp -v algorithm.txt $docdir
 }
 
 var_insert confopt " " "--shared"
 var_insert CC_WRAPPER_INSERT " " "-fPIC"
+var_append makeinstopt " " "mandir=$mandir"
 hook_add preconf 3 "unset AR"
 hook_add postmake 3 "zlib_pm"