diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/pkgconfig.py b/mesonbuild/modules/pkgconfig.py
index 1bdf829..5f1bfd9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/pkgconfig.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/pkgconfig.py
@@ -701,6 +701,9 @@ class PkgConfigModule(NewExtensionModule):
         pcfile = filebase + '.pc'
         pkgroot = pkgroot_name = kwargs['install_dir'] or default_install_dir
         if pkgroot is None:
+            pkgroot = os.path.join(_as_str(state.environment.coredata.get_option(OptionKey('libdir'))), 'pkgconfig')
+            pkgroot_name = os.path.join('{libdir}', 'pkgconfig')
+        elif False:
             if mesonlib.is_freebsd():
                 pkgroot = os.path.join(_as_str(state.environment.coredata.get_option(OptionKey('prefix'))), 'libdata', 'pkgconfig')
                 pkgroot_name = os.path.join('{prefix}', 'libdata', 'pkgconfig')