diff --git a/Lib/sysconfig.py b/Lib/sysconfig.py
index 33b2791..77402d8 100644
--- a/Lib/sysconfig.py
+++ b/Lib/sysconfig.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
 def _get_makefile_filename():
     if _PYTHON_BUILD:
         return os.path.join(_PROJECT_BASE, "Makefile")
-    return os.path.join(get_path('stdlib'), "config", "Makefile")
+    return os.path.join(get_path('platstdlib'), "config", "Makefile")
 
 
 def _init_posix(vars):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 4a2ff93..40c5644 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #11171: Fix detection of config/Makefile when --prefix !=
+  --exec-prefix, which caused Python to not start.
+
 - Issue #11116: any error during addition of a message to a mailbox now causes
   a rollback, instead of leaving the mailbox partially modified.