diff --git a/devtools/test-meson-builds.sh b/devtools/test-meson-builds.sh
index 08e83eb5c6..e3a5a5d51d 100755
--- a/devtools/test-meson-builds.sh
+++ b/devtools/test-meson-builds.sh
@@ -133,7 +133,11 @@ load_env cc
 pc_file=$(find $DESTDIR -name libdpdk.pc)
 export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=$(dirname $pc_file):$PKG_CONFIG_PATH
 
-for example in cmdline helloworld l2fwd l3fwd skeleton timer; do
-	echo "## Building $example"
-	$MAKE -C $DESTDIR/usr/local/share/dpdk/examples/$example clean all
-done
+# if pkg-config defines the necessary flags, test building some examples
+if pkg-config --define-prefix libdpdk >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	export PKGCONF="pkg-config --define-prefix"
+	for example in cmdline helloworld l2fwd l3fwd skeleton timer; do
+		echo "## Building $example"
+		$MAKE -C $DESTDIR/usr/local/share/dpdk/examples/$example clean all
+	done
+fi
diff --git a/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile b/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
index 715c521a96..033f5aada7 100644
--- a/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
+++ b/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/bond/Makefile b/examples/bond/Makefile
index 0229b31bb1..3f1ae1b6f5 100644
--- a/examples/bond/Makefile
+++ b/examples/bond/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static: build/$(APP)-static
 
 LDFLAGS += -lrte_pmd_bond
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/cmdline/Makefile b/examples/cmdline/Makefile
index c1852080ab..f362a2afb4 100644
--- a/examples/cmdline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/cmdline/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/distributor/Makefile b/examples/distributor/Makefile
index bac8d5578e..ac804da343 100644
--- a/examples/distributor/Makefile
+++ b/examples/distributor/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile b/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
index 2051458536..9a6250b857 100644
--- a/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/fips_validation/Makefile b/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
index 9485daf7a4..da5c8f6e7f 100644
--- a/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
+++ b/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/flow_classify/Makefile b/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
index 4c23e5c6d1..0b41ac4eb3 100644
--- a/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
+++ b/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile b/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
index a63a755550..1d5ab739c7 100644
--- a/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
+++ b/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/helloworld/Makefile b/examples/helloworld/Makefile
index 403afa0504..267f90b4e0 100644
--- a/examples/helloworld/Makefile
+++ b/examples/helloworld/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ioat/Makefile b/examples/ioat/Makefile
index 2a4d1da2db..ad4c63e31a 100644
--- a/examples/ioat/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ioat/Makefile
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PC_FILE := $(shell pkg-config --path libdpdk)
-CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell pkg-config --cflags libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell pkg-config --libs libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell pkg-config --static --libs libdpdk)
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
+
+PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
+CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
diff --git a/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile b/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
index 6af25a02e2..1d13962117 100644
--- a/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile b/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
index cf10d71808..77d37cc40e 100644
--- a/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile b/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
index 0b1a904e07..3d7fac1956 100644
--- a/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
index 851123be58..1c2b944d6c 100644
--- a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile b/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
index 5f8a67dd4e..5f9d738810 100644
--- a/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/kni/Makefile b/examples/kni/Makefile
index 5dc8118e31..fbe0097cfe 100644
--- a/examples/kni/Makefile
+++ b/examples/kni/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
index c1960d6d34..86e56a1e71 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
index 29fd530b47..ecfbab1f59 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
index 6f41768828..04e6796a6a 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
index 729a39e93b..0882c26978 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
index 37de27a6f4..68e4674263 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static: build/$(APP)-static
 
 LDFLAGS += -pthread -lrt
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
index 9c506844ea..97af55a50e 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
index e2c989f717..7fcf1e7a63 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
index 98248f462a..de5d15cb7c 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
index c55f5c2888..042eae92bb 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile b/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
index 97e5a14a83..3d55aa1ac4 100644
--- a/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
+++ b/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ntb/Makefile b/examples/ntb/Makefile
index 5ddd9b95f1..7927f44ac3 100644
--- a/examples/ntb/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ntb/Makefile
@@ -18,13 +18,15 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
+
 CFLAGS += -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
-PC_FILE := $(shell pkg-config --path libdpdk)
-CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell pkg-config --cflags libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell pkg-config --libs libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell pkg-config --static --libs libdpdk)
+PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
+CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
diff --git a/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile b/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
index 51acaf7ebe..b04a39399a 100644
--- a/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
+++ b/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/ptpclient/Makefile b/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
index 89e2bacbda..0f8390b689 100644
--- a/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/qos_meter/Makefile b/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
index e5217cf7c0..4a9b628b83 100644
--- a/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
+++ b/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/qos_sched/Makefile b/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
index ce2d253715..5737ad652f 100644
--- a/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
+++ b/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile b/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
index edd5b52cd6..0f126692a9 100644
--- a/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
+++ b/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/service_cores/Makefile b/examples/service_cores/Makefile
index abbb7aed22..6fecedc54a 100644
--- a/examples/service_cores/Makefile
+++ b/examples/service_cores/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/skeleton/Makefile b/examples/skeleton/Makefile
index c5ac260293..fdc458c913 100644
--- a/examples/skeleton/Makefile
+++ b/examples/skeleton/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/tep_termination/Makefile b/examples/tep_termination/Makefile
index 31165bd92a..57af4e7cca 100644
--- a/examples/tep_termination/Makefile
+++ b/examples/tep_termination/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static: build/$(APP)-static
 
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/timer/Makefile b/examples/timer/Makefile
index a861783551..21f05918c5 100644
--- a/examples/timer/Makefile
+++ b/examples/timer/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/vdpa/Makefile b/examples/vdpa/Makefile
index 2ac991a4be..68d088f220 100644
--- a/examples/vdpa/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vdpa/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/vhost/Makefile b/examples/vhost/Makefile
index f84b7f0172..fcb864d0ec 100644
--- a/examples/vhost/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static: build/$(APP)-static
 
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile b/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
index a10a90071a..af2a3f87be 100644
--- a/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
+
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
-PC_FILE := $(shell pkg-config --path libdpdk)
-CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell pkg-config --cflags libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell pkg-config --libs libdpdk)
-LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell pkg-config --static --libs libdpdk)
+PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
+CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
+LDFLAGS_STATIC = -Wl,-Bstatic $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
diff --git a/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile b/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
index a9e1c4d3af..43e2e32444 100644
--- a/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/vmdq/Makefile b/examples/vmdq/Makefile
index 1557ee86bf..e0f1e4c406 100644
--- a/examples/vmdq/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vmdq/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
diff --git a/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile b/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
index 391096cfb7..def5158729 100644
--- a/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ shared: build/$(APP)-shared
 static: build/$(APP)-static
 	ln -sf $(APP)-static build/$(APP)
 
-PKGCONF=pkg-config --define-prefix
+PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)