diff --git a/ocaml/Makefile.am b/ocaml/Makefile.am
index 752fc109c..4d13eed97 100644
--- a/ocaml/Makefile.am
+++ b/ocaml/Makefile.am
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ endif
 
 stamp-mlguestfs: libguestfsocaml.a $(guestfs_cmm)
 	$(OCAMLMKLIB) -o mlguestfs \
+	  -ldopt '$(LDFLAGS)' \
 	  $(libguestfsocaml_a_OBJECTS) guestfs.cmo \
-	  $(LDFLAGS) \
 	  $(LTLIBINTL) \
 	  -L../lib/.libs -lguestfs
 if HAVE_OCAMLOPT
 	$(OCAMLMKLIB) -o mlguestfs \
+	  -ldopt '$(LDFLAGS)' \
 	  $(libguestfsocaml_a_OBJECTS) guestfs.cmx \
-	  $(LDFLAGS) \
 	  $(LTLIBINTL) \
 	  -L../lib/.libs -lguestfs
 endif