diff --git a/python-package-helpers.cmake b/python-package-helpers.cmake
index 339e99a..4b2a97d 100644
--- a/python-package-helpers.cmake
+++ b/python-package-helpers.cmake
@@ -274,12 +274,12 @@ endfunction()
 macro(ev_setup_cmake_variables_python_wheel)
     set(${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX "" CACHE PATH "Path to install python wheels to")
     if (${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX STREQUAL "")
-        if(${WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX})
+        if(NOT ${WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX} STREQUAL "")
             set(${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX "${WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}")
-            message(STATUS "${PROJET_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX not set, using default: WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX=${${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}")
+            message(STATUS "${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX not set, using: WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX=${${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}")
         else()
             set(${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/../dist-wheels")
-            message(STATUS "${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX not set, using default: \${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/../dist-wheels=${${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}")
+            message(STATUS "${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX and WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX not set, using default: \${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/../dist-wheels=${${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}")
         endif()
         set(${PROJECT_NAME}_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX "${${PROJECT_NAME}_DEFAULT_WHEEL_INSTALL_PREFIX}" CACHE PATH "Path to install python wheels to" FORCE)
     endif()