diff --git a/sit b/sit
index d72a5a2..83008d3 100755
--- a/sit
+++ b/sit
@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@ COMPILER=${COMPILER:=${DEFAULT_COMPILER}}
 COMPILER_VERSION=${COMPILER_VERSION:=}
 
 
-# add a descriptor at the end of the installation path e.g. for special config options etc.
-PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR=${PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR:+-$PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR}
-
-
 # Compiler specifications
 COMPILER_CONFIG_FILE="$SIT_PATH/etc/platform-configs/${PLATFORM}/compiler/${COMPILER}"
 if [ -e $COMPILER_CONFIG_FILE ] ; then
@@ -179,7 +175,7 @@ if [ -z $PREFIX ] ; then
 PREFIX="${PREFIX_BASE}/${CATEGORY}/${PACKAGE}/${VERSION}"
 PREFIX_SUFFIX=${MPI:+"-$MPI"}${MPI_VERSION_NUM:+"-$MPI_VERSION_NUM"}
 PREFIX_SUFFIX=$PREFIX_SUFFIX${COMPILER:+"-$COMPILER"}${COMPILER_VERSION:+"-$COMPILER_VERSION"}
-PREFIX_SUFFIX=$PREFIX_SUFFIX${PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR}
+PREFIX_SUFFIX=$PREFIX_SUFFIX${PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR:+-$PACKAGE_DESCRIPTOR}
 
 PREFIX=$PREFIX${PREFIX_SUFFIX:+"$PREFIX_SUFFIX"}
 fi