diff --git a/client/Makefile b/client/Makefile
index fc7fa520b..1ca87678a 100644
--- a/client/Makefile
+++ b/client/Makefile
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ else
     LIBS := -I/usr/local/opt/readline/include $(LIBS)
 else
     LUALIB +=  -ldl
-    LDLIBS +=  -ltermcap -lncurses
+    LDLIBS += $(shell pkg-config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null)
     LUAPLATFORM = linux
 endif
 endif