diff --git a/config/exiv2-config.in b/config/exiv2-config.in
index aca48318..4c593c99 100644
--- a/config/exiv2-config.in
+++ b/config/exiv2-config.in
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
         ;;
 
     --libs)
-       	echo -L$libdir -lexiv2
+       	echo -L$libdir -lexiv2 @LIBS@
        	;;
 
     *)
diff --git a/config/exiv2.pc.in b/config/exiv2.pc.in
index 16c388d9..1e52d46c 100644
--- a/config/exiv2.pc.in
+++ b/config/exiv2.pc.in
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ Name: exiv2
 Description: Exif and IPTC metadata library and tools
 Version: @PACKAGE_VERSION@
 URL: http://www.exiv2.org
-Libs: -L${libdir} -lexiv2
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lexiv2 @LIBS@
 Cflags: -I${includedir}
diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index 757a53be..bb545c7b 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -136,7 +136,6 @@ LIBRARY = libexiv2.la
 # Defines, Includes and Libraries
 CXXDEFS = $(DEFS)
 CXXINCS = $(INCS)
-LDLIBS  = $(LIBS) $(LIBRARY)
 
 # ******************************************************************************
 # ==============================================================================
@@ -195,7 +194,8 @@ endif
 # Compilation shortcuts
 COMPILE.cc = $(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(CXXDEFS) $(CXXINCS) -c
 COMPILE.c = $(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DEFS) $(INCS) -c
-LINK.cc = $(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(LDLIBS) $(LDFLAGS) -rpath $(libdir)
+# LINK.cc does not need $(LIBS), libtool's dark magic takes care of that
+LINK.cc = $(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(LIBRARY) $(LDFLAGS) -rpath $(libdir)
 
 # ******************************************************************************
 # Rules
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ $(LIBTOOL): $(LIBTOOL_DEPS)
 bin: lib $(BINARY) $(EXIV2BIN) $(MCBIN) path-test
 
 lib: $(OBJ)
-	$(LIBTOOL) --mode=link $(CXX) $(LDFLAGS) $(LOBJ) -o $(LIBRARY) -rpath $(libdir) -release $(EXIV2_VERSION)
+	$(LIBTOOL) --mode=link $(CXX) $(LDFLAGS) $(LOBJ) -o $(LIBRARY) -rpath $(libdir) -release $(EXIV2_VERSION) $(LIBS)
 	@touch lib
 
 path-test: path-test.o utils.o