diff --git a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
index 27b5fb5f55..3a96cd613c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
@@ -70,7 +70,15 @@ (define-public gnu-gettext
                        (substitute* "gettext-tools/src/project-id"
                          (("/bin/pwd")
                           "pwd")))))
-                 %standard-phases)
+                 (alist-cons-before
+                  'configure 'link-expat
+                  (lambda _
+                    ;; Gettext defaults to opening expat via dlopen on
+                    ;; "Linux".  Change to link directly.
+                    (substitute* "gettext-tools/configure"
+                      (("LIBEXPAT=\"-ldl\"") "LIBEXPAT=\"-ldl -lexpat\"")
+                      (("LTLIBEXPAT=\"-ldl\"") "LTLIBEXPAT=\"-ldl -lexpat\"")))
+                  %standard-phases))
 
        ;; When tests fail, we want to know the details.
        #:make-flags '("VERBOSE=yes")))