diff --git a/scripts/packages/api_template_bin.sh b/scripts/packages/api_template_bin.sh
index 697d6fd..b8b9e97 100755
--- a/scripts/packages/api_template_bin.sh
+++ b/scripts/packages/api_template_bin.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
 function usage() {
   echo "Usage: $progname [options]" >&2
   echo "Options are:" >&2
-  echo "  --prefix=/some/path set the prefix path (default=/usr/local)." >&2
+  echo "  --prefix=/some/path set the prefix path to install." >&2
+  echo "  --system configure for system install, expands to" >&2
+  echo '           `--prefix=/usr/local`.' >&2
   echo "  --user configure for user install, expands to" >&2
   echo '           `--prefix=$HOME/.heronapi`.' >&2
   echo "  --maven install jars to maven local repo" >&2
@@ -148,6 +150,11 @@
 
 progname="$0"
 
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+  usage
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 echo "Heron API installer"
 echo "---------------------"
 echo
@@ -161,6 +168,9 @@
     --prefix=*)
       prefix="$(echo "$opt" | cut -d '=' -f 2-)"
       ;;
+    --system)
+      base="/usr/local/heronapi"
+      ;;
     --user)
       base="$HOME/.heronapi"
       ;;
diff --git a/scripts/packages/client_template_bin.sh b/scripts/packages/client_template_bin.sh
index 25e2e30..7ebeab6 100755
--- a/scripts/packages/client_template_bin.sh
+++ b/scripts/packages/client_template_bin.sh
@@ -22,20 +22,28 @@
 
 progname="$0"
 
-echo "Heron client installer"
-echo "----------------------"
-echo
-
 function usage() {
   echo "Usage: $progname [options]" >&2
   echo "Options are:" >&2
   echo "  --prefix=/some/path set the prefix path (default=/usr/local)." >&2
   echo "  --heronrc= set the heronrc path (default=/usr/local/heron/etc/heron.heronrc)." >&2
+  echo "  --system configure for system install, expands to" >&2
+  echo '           `--prefix=/usr/local/heron --heronrc=$HOME/.heronrc`.' >&2
   echo "  --user configure for user install, expands to" >&2
   echo '           `--prefix=$HOME/.heron --heronrc=$HOME/.heronrc`.' >&2
   exit 1
 }
 
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+  usage
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Heron client installer"
+echo "----------------------"
+echo
+
+
 prefix="/usr/local"
 bin="%prefix%/bin"
 base="%prefix%/heron"
@@ -50,6 +58,11 @@
     --heronrc=*)
       heronrc="$(echo "$opt" | cut -d '=' -f 2-)"
       ;;
+    --system)
+      bin="/usr/local/bin"
+      base="/usr/local/heron"
+      heronrc="$HOME/.heronrc"
+      ;;
     --user)
       bin="$HOME/bin"
       base="$HOME/.heron"
diff --git a/scripts/packages/tools_template_bin.sh b/scripts/packages/tools_template_bin.sh
index 6b5e117..2fe4639 100755
--- a/scripts/packages/tools_template_bin.sh
+++ b/scripts/packages/tools_template_bin.sh
@@ -21,19 +21,26 @@
 
 progname="$0"
 
-echo "Heron tools installer"
-echo "---------------------"
-echo
-
 function usage() {
   echo "Usage: $progname [options]" >&2
   echo "Options are:" >&2
   echo "  --prefix=/some/path set the prefix path (default=/usr/local)." >&2
+  echo "  --system configure for system install, expands to" >&2
+  echo '           `--prefix=/usr/local/herontools`.' >&2
   echo "  --user configure for user install, expands to" >&2
   echo '           `--prefix=$HOME/.herontools`.' >&2
   exit 1
 }
 
+echo "Heron tools installer"
+echo "---------------------"
+echo
+
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+  usage
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 prefix="/usr/local"
 bin="%prefix%/bin"
 base="%prefix%/herontools"
@@ -43,6 +50,10 @@
     --prefix=*)
       prefix="$(echo "$opt" | cut -d '=' -f 2-)"
       ;;
+    --system)
+      bin="/usr/local/bin"
+      base="/usr/local/herontools"
+      ;;
     --user)
       bin="$HOME/bin"
       base="$HOME/.herontools"