diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d6511091..e3fdbff7 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,22 +1,24 @@
-SET(phreeqc_DATABASE
-Amm.dat
-core10.dat
-ColdChem.dat
-frezchem.dat
-iso.dat
-llnl.dat
-minteq.dat
-minteq.v4.dat
-phreeqc.dat
-pitzer.dat
-sit.dat
-Tipping_Hurley.dat
-wateq4f.dat
+# set standard directory locations
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
+
+set(phreeqc_DATABASE
+  Amm.dat
+  core10.dat
+  ColdChem.dat
+  frezchem.dat
+  iso.dat
+  llnl.dat
+  minteq.dat
+  minteq.v4.dat
+  phreeqc.dat
+  pitzer.dat
+  sit.dat
+  Tipping_Hurley.dat
+  wateq4f.dat
 )
 
-IF(WIN32)
+if (WIN32)
   install (FILES ${phreeqc_DATABASE} DESTINATION database)
-ELSE()
+else()
   install (FILES ${phreeqc_DATABASE} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/database)
-ENDIF()
-
+endif()