diff --git a/api/Makefile.am b/api/Makefile.am
index 9b215782b0..04fcf7898f 100644
--- a/api/Makefile.am
+++ b/api/Makefile.am
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ all-local: $(all_local)
 
 $(LIBBOINC_API_STATIC): libboinc_api.la
 	rm -f $(LIBBOINC_API_STATIC)
-	ln .libs/$(LIBBOINC_API_STATIC)
+	$(LN) .libs/$(LIBBOINC_API_STATIC) .
 
 $(LIBBOINC_GRAPHICS2_STATIC): libboinc_graphics2.la
 	rm -f $(LIBBOINC_GRAPHICS2_STATIC)
-	ln .libs/$(LIBBOINC_GRAPHICS2_STATIC)
+	$(LN) .libs/$(LIBBOINC_GRAPHICS2_STATIC) .
 
 
 endif ## ENABLE_LIBRARIES
diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 3f5f459764..24655d7c83 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -4303,3 +4303,11 @@ David  5 May 2009
 
     client/
         cpu_sched.cpp
+
+David  5 May 2009
+    - Change Makefiles to use "$(LN) foo ." instead of "ln foo"
+
+    zip/
+        Makefile.am
+    api/
+        Makefile.am
diff --git a/zip/Makefile.am b/zip/Makefile.am
index c1a3e8e852..a3e3c5ea30 100644
--- a/zip/Makefile.am
+++ b/zip/Makefile.am
@@ -70,6 +70,6 @@ all-local: $(all_local)
 
 $(LIBBOINC_ZIP_STATIC): libboinc_zip.la
 	rm -f $(LIBBOINC_ZIP_STATIC)
-	ln .libs/$(LIBBOINC_ZIP_STATIC)
+	$(LN) .libs/$(LIBBOINC_ZIP_STATIC) .
 
 endif