diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a133b9a..809e51b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ AS_IF([test "x$XSLTPROC" == "xfalse"], [
 ###############################################################################
 ## Required packages
 
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([UTIL], [libcruft-util])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES_STATIC([UTIL], [libcruft-util])
 AC_SUBST([UTIL_CFLAGS])
 AC_SUBST([UTIL_LIBS])