diff --git a/perl/Build.PL.in b/perl/Build.PL.in
index abec96591..7da7606df 100755
--- a/perl/Build.PL.in
+++ b/perl/Build.PL.in
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ my $build = Module::Build->new (
     ],
     extra_linker_flags => [
         '-DGUESTFS_PRIVATE=1',
-        split (' ', '@CFLAGS@'),
+        split (' ', '@LDFLAGS@'),
         '-L@top_builddir@/lib/.libs',
         '-lguestfs',
     ],