diff --git a/xattr/lib_build.py b/xattr/lib_build.py
index bb0caae..9c848ed 100644
--- a/xattr/lib_build.py
+++ b/xattr/lib_build.py
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ from cffi import FFI
 
 PATH = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
+libraries = []
+
+if sys.version_info >= (3,8):
+    libraries.append('python%s.%s' % (sys.version_info.major,sys.version_info.minor))
+
 with open(os.path.join(PATH, 'lib_build.h')) as hf:
     c_header = hf.read()
 with open(os.path.join(PATH, 'lib_build.c')) as cf:
@@ -11,7 +16,7 @@ with open(os.path.join(PATH, 'lib_build.c')) as cf:
 
 ffi = FFI()
 ffi.cdef(c_header)
-ffi.set_source('_lib', c_source)
+ffi.set_source('_lib', c_source, libraries=libraries)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     ffi.compile()