diff --git a/lib/libtermcap/Makefile b/lib/libtermcap/Makefile
index 632de37d635c..044965f93430 100644
--- a/lib/libtermcap/Makefile
+++ b/lib/libtermcap/Makefile
@@ -10,10 +10,17 @@ MAN3=	termcap.3
 MLINKS=	termcap.3 tgetent.3 termcap.3 tgetflag.3 termcap.3 tgetnum.3 \
 	termcap.3 tgetstr.3 termcap.3 tgoto.3 termcap.3 tputs.3 \
 	termcap.3 tparm.3 termcap.3 __set_ospeed.3
+
 LINKS=	${LIBDIR}/libtermcap.a ${LIBDIR}/libtermlib.a
 .if !defined(NOPIC)
+.if ${BINFORMAT} == aout
 LINKS+= ${SHLIBDIR}/libtermcap.so.${SHLIB_MAJOR}.${SHLIB_MINOR} \
 	${SHLIBDIR}/libtermlib.so.${SHLIB_MAJOR}.${SHLIB_MINOR}
+.else
+# no need for major at all, it's an ld-time redirection only
+LINKS+=	${SHLIBDIR}/libtermcap.so \
+	${SHLIBDIR}/libtermlib.so
+.endif
 .endif
 .if !defined(NOPROFILE)
 LINKS+=	${LIBDIR}/libtermcap_p.a ${LIBDIR}/libtermlib_p.a
@@ -23,6 +30,7 @@ beforeinstall:
 	${INSTALL} -C -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 444 ${.CURDIR}/termcap.h \
 		${DESTDIR}/usr/include
 
+.if ${BINFORMAT} == aout
 # This is a hack.. Work around a major number bump that should have been
 # done differently.  Back out this delta when it's time to go to 3.0 for real.
 .if !defined(NOPIC)
@@ -34,5 +42,6 @@ afterinstall:
 	rm -f ${DESTDIR}${SHLIBDIR}/${lib}.3.0
 .endfor
 .endif
+.endif
 
 .include <bsd.lib.mk>