diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index b7896bf9c..558ce08ea 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -195,9 +195,13 @@ export_symbols = -export-symbols harfbuzz.def
 harfbuzz_def_dependency = harfbuzz.def
 libharfbuzz_la_LINK = $(CXXLINK) $(libharfbuzz_la_LDFLAGS)
 else
+if HAVE_ICU
+libharfbuzz_la_LINK = $(CXXLINK) $(libharfbuzz_la_LDFLAGS)
+else
 # Use a C linker, not C++; Don't link to libstdc++
 libharfbuzz_la_LINK = $(LINK) $(libharfbuzz_la_LDFLAGS)
 endif
+endif
 
 libharfbuzz_la_SOURCES = $(HBSOURCES) $(HBHEADERS)
 nodist_libharfbuzz_la_SOURCES = $(nodist_HBSOURCES)