diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 7d9bbd66f..df104ac38 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ endif
 
 if ENABLE_TALLOC
 libosmocore_la_SOURCES += talloc.c
+else
+libosmocore_la_LIBADD = -ltalloc
 endif
 
 if ENABLE_MSGFILE