diff --git a/gio/tests/services/meson.build b/gio/tests/services/meson.build
index 8d7dce42f..a709f13ee 100644
--- a/gio/tests/services/meson.build
+++ b/gio/tests/services/meson.build
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ installed_cdata = configuration_data()
 installed_cdata.set('installed_tests_dir', installed_tests_execdir)
 
 foreach service_file_name : dbus_service_files
-  configure_file(
+  service_file = configure_file(
     input: service_file_name + '.in',
     output: service_file_name,
     configuration: srcdir_cdata,
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ foreach service_file_name : dbus_service_files
   if installed_tests_enabled
     # Build a second copy of the service file for the installed
     # version of the tests.
-    configure_file(
-      input: service_file_name + '.in',
+    installed_service_file = configure_file(
+      input: service_file,
       output: service_file_name + '.to-install',
       configuration: installed_cdata,
     )
-    install_data(meson.current_build_dir() / service_file + '.to-install',
+    install_data(installed_service_file,
       install_dir: installed_tests_execdir / 'services',
       install_tag: 'tests',
       rename: [service_file_name],