diff --git a/lib/python/Makefile.lammps b/lib/python/Makefile.lammps
index adda24caec..4289674e99 100644
--- a/lib/python/Makefile.lammps
+++ b/lib/python/Makefile.lammps
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 # See the README file for more explanation
 
 python_SYSINC = $(shell which python-config > /dev/null 2>&1 && python-config --includes || :)
-python_SYSLIB = -lpython3 $(shell which python-config > /dev/null 2>&1 && python-config --ldflags || :)
+python_SYSLIB = $(shell which python-config > /dev/null 2>&1 && python-config --ldflags || :)
 python_SYSPATH =
 PYTHON=python