diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e6bc676461e..371036cb10a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -242,10 +242,15 @@ def detect_modules(self):
             exts.append( Extension('rgbimg', ['rgbimgmodule.c']) )
 
         # readline
-        if (self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'readline')):
+        if self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'readline'):
+            readline_libs = ['readline']
+            if self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs +
+                                               ['/usr/lib/termcap'],
+                                               'termcap'):
+                readline_libs.append('termcap')
             exts.append( Extension('readline', ['readline.c'],
                                    library_dirs=['/usr/lib/termcap'],
-                                   libraries=['readline', 'termcap']) )
+                                   libraries=readline_libs) )
 
         # The crypt module is now disabled by default because it breaks builds
         # on many systems (where -lcrypt is needed), e.g. Linux (I believe).