diff --git a/lib/libXaw/configure.ac b/lib/libXaw/configure.ac
index b3cb82b15..05ce684b1 100644
--- a/lib/libXaw/configure.ac
+++ b/lib/libXaw/configure.ac
@@ -66,9 +66,6 @@ AC_SUBST(LIBEXT)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(PLATFORM_WIN32, test "x$platform_win32" = "xyes")
 AM_CONDITIONAL(PLATFORM_DARWIN, test "x$platform_darwin" = "xyes")
 
-# some platforms don't even have shared libs
-AM_CONDITIONAL(SHARED_LIBS, [test -f /usr/libexec/ld.so])
-
 # Whether to build Xaw6
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(xaw6, AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-xaw6],
diff --git a/lib/libXaw/src/Makefile.am b/lib/libXaw/src/Makefile.am
index 426fd244c..7a3bc62ab 100644
--- a/lib/libXaw/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/libXaw/src/Makefile.am
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ libXaw6_la_SOURCES = \
 libXaw6_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 6:1:0 -no-undefined
 libXaw6_la_LIBADD = $(XAW6_LIBS)
 
-if SHARED_LIBS
 if !PLATFORM_WIN32
 install-exec-hook::
 if PLATFORM_DARWIN
@@ -99,7 +98,6 @@ else
 endif
 endif
 
-endif
 endif
 
 if BUILD_XAW7
@@ -121,7 +119,6 @@ libXaw7_la_SOURCES = \
 libXaw7_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 7:0:0 -no-undefined
 libXaw7_la_LIBADD = $(XAW7_LIBS)
 
-if SHARED_LIBS
 if !PLATFORM_WIN32
 install-exec-hook::
 if PLATFORM_DARWIN
@@ -140,7 +137,6 @@ endif
 #endif
 endif
 
-endif
 endif
 
 EXTRA_DIST = sharedlib.c