diff --git a/src/Jamrules b/src/Jamrules
index ecd5a4aec..e3868de6a 100644
--- a/src/Jamrules
+++ b/src/Jamrules
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ CCFLAGS += -Wwrite-strings
 
 rule iconv
 {
-  LINKLIBS on $(<) += -liconv ;
+  if $(LINK_ICONV) {
+    LINKLIBS on $(<) += -liconv ;
+  }
 }
 
 rule luabind