diff --git a/lib/editline/Makefile.am b/lib/editline/Makefile.am
index 1875d70b7..231719090 100644
--- a/lib/editline/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/editline/Makefile.am
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ INCLUDES += $(IS)
 
 man_MANS = editline.3
 
-lib_LIBRARIES = libeditline.a
+lib_LTLIBRARIES = libeditline.la
 if el_compat
-noinst_LIBRARIES = libel_compat.a
+noinst_LTLIBRARIES = libel_compat.la
 else
-noinst_LIBRARIES =
+noinst_LTLIBRARIES =
 endif
 
 noinst_PROGRAMS = testit
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS = testit
 CHECK_LOCAL =
 
 testit_LDADD = \
-	libeditline.a \
+	libeditline.la \
 	$(LIB_tgetent) \
 	$(LIB_roken)
 
 include_HEADERS = editline.h
 
-libeditline_a_SOURCES = \
+libeditline_la_SOURCES = \
 	complete.c \
 	editline.c \
 	sysunix.c \
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ libeditline_a_SOURCES = \
 	unix.h \
 	$(EXTRA_SOURCE)
 
+libeditline_la_LDFLAGS = -static
+
 EXTRA_SOURCE = $(ES) 
 
-libel_compat_a_SOURCES = edit_compat.c
+libel_compat_la_SOURCES = edit_compat.c
+
+libel_compat_la_LDFLAGS = -static
 
 EXTRA_DIST = $(man_MANS)