diff --git a/m4/virt-netcf.m4 b/m4/virt-netcf.m4
index 8d123c75ac..7e0ee83fc5 100644
--- a/m4/virt-netcf.m4
+++ b/m4/virt-netcf.m4
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_CHECK_NETCF],[
 
   if test "$with_netcf" = "yes" ; then
     old_CFLAGS="$CFLAGS"
-    old_LIBS="$CFLAGS"
+    old_LIBS="$LIBS"
     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $NETCF_CFLAGS"
     LIBS="$LIBS $NETCF_LIBS"
     AC_CHECK_FUNC([ncf_change_begin], [netcf_transactions=1], [netcf_transactions=0])