diff --git a/boilerplate/Makefile.am b/boilerplate/Makefile.am
index 9d27fd96d..22f66a89d 100644
--- a/boilerplate/Makefile.am
+++ b/boilerplate/Makefile.am
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ TESTS += check-link$(EXEEXT)
 endif
 
 check_PROGRAMS += check-link
-check_link_LDADD = libcairoboilerplate.la $(CAIRO_LIBS)
+check_link_LDADD = libcairoboilerplate.la
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index ace6dc312..60a552076 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ endif
 
 EXTRA_DIST += $(TESTS_SH) check-has-hidden-symbols.c
 check_PROGRAMS += check-link
-check_link_LDADD = libcairo.la $(CAIRO_LIBS)
+check_link_LDADD = libcairo.la
 
 
 # The pre-processed result is used by check-{def,plt}.sh to determine whether