diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a29cb3c9d..7d45c8a36 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ AC_CHECK_FUNCS([times srand48 drand48 kill alarm])
 LT_CONFIG_LTDL_DIR([ltdl])
 LT_INIT([win32-dll])
 LTDL_INIT([subproject convenience])
+# Debian resets this to no, but this break both Spot and the libtool
+# test suite itself.  Instead of requiring developer to install a
+# non-patched version of Libtool on any Debian they use, we just
+# cancel the effect of Debian's patch here.
+link_all_deplibs=yes
+link_all_deplibs_CXX=yes
 
 adl_ENABLE_DEBUG
 ad_GCC_OPTIM