diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index 90b2f0c..0325a8e 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -2232,6 +2232,12 @@ install-icons:
 	   $(INSTALL_DATA) $(SCRIPTSOURCE)/vim.desktop \
 		$(SCRIPTSOURCE)/gvim.desktop \
 		$(DESKTOPPATH); \
+	   if test -z "$(DESTDIR)"; then \
+	      do_cache_update=`which update-desktop-database`; \
+	      if test $$? -eq 0 -a -x $${do_cache_update}; then \
+	         $${do_cache_update} $(DESKTOPPATH); \
+	      fi; \
+	   fi; \
 	fi
 
 $(HELPSOURCE)/vim.1 $(MACROSOURCE) $(TOOLSSOURCE):