diff --git a/CHANGES/v2.2.txt b/CHANGES/v2.2.txt
index 7adf439c0a28d58c4ec8e4e2cfa153e2df7639d9..03a1c90e9a7d5ce771b98399d092305df3f40a9e 100644
--- a/CHANGES/v2.2.txt
+++ b/CHANGES/v2.2.txt
@@ -88,5 +88,7 @@ For users:
   DESTDIR and other standard autoconf directories (e.g. bindir) are completely supported.
   Additionally, everything should work properly also when directory names include spaces (\issue{157}).
   Finally, compiler is not invoked on install unless path are explicitly changed (\issue{107}).
+- Related to installation refactoring, upon install a previusly installed plumed is not removed.
+  This is to avoid data loss if prefix variable is not properly set
 
 */
diff --git a/src/lib/Makefile b/src/lib/Makefile
index cded89614a0a88b5c9f603d033c6db2e26fcf670..5a6c8635f70da5d6f7c58ac453b61c4ff644a3ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/Makefile
+++ b/src/lib/Makefile
@@ -116,7 +116,11 @@ ifdef PLUMED_LIBSUFFIX
 	@echo "++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++"
 endif
 	cd ../config ; $(MAKE)
-	$(MAKE) uninstall
+# in principle we should uninstall before install
+# however, I think it is safer not to do it here since users could make mistake
+# and remove important files by just typing "sudo make install" with a 
+# malformed prefix variables
+	# $(MAKE) uninstall
 	mkdir -p "$(DESTDIR)$(bindir)"
 	mkdir -p "$(DESTDIR)$(libdir)"
 	mkdir -p "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)/$(program_name)"