diff --git a/m4/ul.m4 b/m4/ul.m4
index 724579462..b767a481d 100644
--- a/m4/ul.m4
+++ b/m4/ul.m4
@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ dnl
 dnl Calls pkg-config --static
 dnl
 AC_DEFUN([UL_PKG_STATIC], [
-  if AC_RUN_LOG([$PKG_CONFIG --exists --print-errors "$2"]); then
-    $1=`$PKG_CONFIG --libs --static "$2"`
-  else
-    AC_MSG_ERROR([pkg-config description of $2, needed for static build, is not available])
+  if test "$enable_static" != xno; then
+    if AC_RUN_LOG([$PKG_CONFIG --exists --print-errors "$2"]); then
+      $1=`$PKG_CONFIG --libs --static "$2"`
+    else
+      AC_MSG_ERROR([pkg-config description of $2, needed for static build, is not available])
+    fi
   fi
 ])