diff --git a/etc/man.conf b/etc/man.conf
index 37a89194f..bcdd5332c 100644
--- a/etc/man.conf
+++ b/etc/man.conf
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 _version	BSD.2
 
 # The whatis/apropos database.
-_mandb /var/db/man.db
+# MINIX: Use the correct variable for the DB path
+_whatdb /usr/man/whatis.db
 
 # Subdirectories for paths ending in '/', IN SEARCH ORDER.
 _subdir		cat1 man1 cat8 man8 cat6 man6 cat2 man2 cat3 cat3lua man3 man3lua cat4 man4 cat5 man5 cat7 man7 man3f cat9 cat9lua man9 man9lua catn mann catl manl