diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index b6f0f975e..085f763af 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ freebsd_platform_headers = \
 	zfs/openzfs_sysctl.h
 
 if HTOP_FREEBSD
-AM_LDFLAGS += -lexecinfo
 myhtopplatsources = freebsd/Platform.c freebsd/FreeBSDProcessList.c \
 freebsd/FreeBSDProcess.c freebsd/Battery.c \
 zfs/ZfsArcMeter.c zfs/ZfsCompressedArcMeter.c zfs/ZfsArcStats.c zfs/openzfs_sysctl.c
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ dragonflybsd_platform_headers = \
 	dragonflybsd/Battery.h
 
 if HTOP_DRAGONFLYBSD
-AM_LDFLAGS += -lkvm -lkinfo -lexecinfo
+AM_LDFLAGS += -lkvm -lkinfo
 myhtopplatsources = dragonflybsd/Platform.c dragonflybsd/DragonFlyBSDProcessList.c \
 dragonflybsd/DragonFlyBSDProcess.c dragonflybsd/Battery.c
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 31d4a57c4..b10d819ad 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM(
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([htop is written in C99. A newer compiler is required.])])
 CFLAGS="$save_cflags"
 
+# Add -lexecinfo if needed
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS([backtrace], [execinfo])
+
 # Checks for features and flags.
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 PROCDIR=/proc