diff --git a/tools/sane-config.in b/tools/sane-config.in
index 9ada3a280..ff6cf2687 100644
--- a/tools/sane-config.in
+++ b/tools/sane-config.in
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ if test $# -gt 0; then
       echo "-L${libdir}"
       ;;
     --libs)
-      echo "-lsane ${LIBS}"
+      echo "-lsane"
       ;;
     --cflags)
       unique_cflags="-I${includedir}"