diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 12d8ada..1d51e92 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 export DEB_CFLAGS_MAINT_APPEND  := -pipe -Wall $(MODPLUG_INCLUDE_DIR)
 # bug #715461, provide default soundfont paths
 export DEB_CPPFLAGS_MAINT_APPEND := -DMIX_INIT_SOUNDFONT_PATHS=\"/usr/share/sounds/sf3/default-GM.sf3\"
-export DEB_LDFLAGS_MAINT_APPEND := -Wl,--as-needed
 
 DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH ?= $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_MULTIARCH)