diff --git a/libvirt.spec.in b/libvirt.spec.in
index 45a8fe0e32..1946a153a1 100644
--- a/libvirt.spec.in
+++ b/libvirt.spec.in
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # -*- rpm-spec -*-
 
+# If neither fedora nor rhel was defined, try to guess them from %{dist}
+%if !0%{?rhel} && !0%{?fedora}
+%{expand:%(echo "%{?dist}" | \
+  sed -ne 's/^\.el\([0-9]\+\).*/%%define rhel \1/p')}
+%{expand:%(echo "%{?dist}" | \
+  sed -ne 's/^\.fc\?\([0-9]\+\).*/%%define fedora \1/p')}
+%endif
+
 # A client only build will create a libvirt.so only containing
 # the generic RPC driver, and test driver and no libvirtd
 # Default to a full server + client build