diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8e98dc4e9..a21cb36f4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ if test -n "$SDL2_LIBS"; then
     CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS $SDL2_CFLAGS"
 else
   if test -n "$SDL_LIBS"; then
+    SDL_LIBS="$(echo "$SDL_LIBS" | sed -e 's/-Wl,-rpath,[[^ ]]\+ //')"
     LIBS="$LIBS $SDL_LIBS"
     CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS $SDL_CFLAGS"
   else