diff --git a/cf/pthreads.m4 b/cf/pthreads.m4
index e44024cd4..f08a9fe1f 100644
--- a/cf/pthreads.m4
+++ b/cf/pthreads.m4
@@ -19,10 +19,15 @@ case "$host" in
 		PTHREADS_LIBS=-mt
 	fi
 	;;
-*-*-netbsd*)
+*-*-netbsd[12]*)
 	native_pthread_support="if running netbsd 1.6T or newer"
 	dnl heim_threads.h knows this
-	PTHREADS_LIBS=""
+	PTHREADS_LIBS="-lpthread"
+	;;
+*-*-netbsd[3456789]*)
+	native_pthread_support="netbsd 3 uses explict pthread"
+	dnl heim_threads.h knows this
+	PTHREADS_LIBS="-lpthread"
 	;;
 *-*-freebsd5*)
 	native_pthread_support=yes