diff --git a/utils/open-vm-tools/Makefile b/utils/open-vm-tools/Makefile
index c54dbcbadc..406fe6e4b0 100644
--- a/utils/open-vm-tools/Makefile
+++ b/utils/open-vm-tools/Makefile
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ CONFIGURE_ARGS+= \
 	--without-xerces \
 	--enable-resolutionkms=no
 
-TARGET_LDFLAGS += -liconv
+TARGET_LDFLAGS+=$(if $(ICONV_FULL),-liconv)
 
 define Build/Prepare
 	$(call Build/Prepare/Default)