diff --git a/cmake/modules/AppTarget.cmake b/cmake/modules/AppTarget.cmake
index 5728455..a29b3a4 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/AppTarget.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/AppTarget.cmake
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ endfunction()
 # convenience function to add *.desktop file from project meta data
 function(add_desktop_file)
     add_custom_desktop_file(
-        "${TARGET_PREFIX}${META_PROJECT_NAME}${TARGET_SUFFIX}"
+        "${TARGET_EXECUTABLE}"
         "${META_APP_NAME}"
         "${META_APP_DESCRIPTION}"
         "${META_APP_CATEGORIES}"
diff --git a/cmake/modules/BasicConfig.cmake b/cmake/modules/BasicConfig.cmake
index 1ff6f5a..d1256a1 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/BasicConfig.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/BasicConfig.cmake
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ if(NOT META_PROJECT_VARNAME_UPPER)
     string(TOUPPER ${META_PROJECT_VARNAME} META_PROJECT_VARNAME_UPPER)
 endif()
 
+# set TARGET_EXECUTABLE which is used to refer to the target executable at its installation location
+set(TARGET_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/${TARGET_PREFIX}${META_PROJECT_NAME}${TARGET_SUFFIX}")
+
 # find config.h template
 include(TemplateFinder)
 find_template_file("config.h" CPP_UTILITIES CONFIG_H_TEMPLATE_FILE)