diff --git a/rebar.config b/rebar.config
index 7755b06d7..55093b0f0 100644
--- a/rebar.config
+++ b/rebar.config
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 {sub_dirs, [
     "rel",
-    "apps/*/",
     "plugins/*/"]}.
 
 {deps, [
diff --git a/rel/reltool.config b/rel/reltool.config
index 497676d87..42e4755ef 100644
--- a/rel/reltool.config
+++ b/rel/reltool.config
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 %% -*- mode: erlang;erlang-indent-level: 4;indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 %% ex: ft=erlang ts=4 sw=4 et
 {sys, [
-       {lib_dirs, ["../apps", "../deps", "../plugins"]},
+       {lib_dirs, ["../deps"]},
        {erts, [{mod_cond, derived}, {app_file, strip}]},
        {app_file, strip},
        {rel, "emqttd", git,
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
        {app, gproc, [{incl_cond, include}]},
        {app, esockd, [{mod_cond, app}, {incl_cond, include}]},
        {app, mochiweb, [{mod_cond, app}, {incl_cond, include}]},
-       {app, emqttd, [{mod_cond, app}, {incl_cond, include}]}
+       {app, emqttd, [{mod_cond, app}, {incl_cond, include}, {lib_dir, ".."}]}
       ]}.
 
 {target_dir, "emqttd"}.