diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 239cded56..8b23a9dee 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -567,7 +567,11 @@ if test "$ac_cv_func_des_cbc_encrypt" = "yes" -a \
 "$ac_cv_func_SHA1_Init" = "yes" -a \
 "$ac_cv_func_RC4" = "yes"; then
   DIR_des=''
-  LIB_des="-R $krb4_libdir -L$krb4_libdir $ac_cv_funclib_MD4_Init"
+  LIB_des=''
+  if test "$krb4_libdir" != ""; then
+    LIB_des="-R $krb4_libdir -L$krb4_libdir"
+  fi
+  LIB_des="$LIB_des $ac_cv_funclib_MD4_Init"
   LIB_des_appl="$LIB_des"
 else
   DIR_des='des'