diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libzen/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libzen/default.nix
index 79649a02457..8d1e3297213 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libzen/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libzen/default.nix
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   };
 
   buildInputs = [ automake autoconf libtool pkgconfig ];
+  configureFlags = [ "--enable-shared" ];
 
   sourceRoot = "./ZenLib/Project/GNU/Library/";