diff --git a/config/path b/config/path
index f037a89ff9..cf9ad9de54 100644
--- a/config/path
+++ b/config/path
@@ -183,6 +183,14 @@ HOST_PKG_CONFIG_PATH=""
 HOST_PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR="$ROOT/$TOOLCHAIN/lib/pkgconfig:$ROOT/$TOOLCHAIN/share/pkgconfig"
 HOST_PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR=""
 
+# use -fPIC when necessary
+  case "`uname -m`" in
+    x86_64|ppc64|arm|armeb|armel)
+    HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -fPIC"
+    HOST_CXXFLAGS="$HOST_CXXFLAGS -fPIC"
+    ;;
+  esac
+
 export CCACHE_DIR=$ROOT/$BUILD/.ccache
 export MAKEFLAGS=-j$CONCURRENCY_MAKE_LEVEL
 export PKG_CONFIG=$ROOT/$TOOLCHAIN/bin/pkg-config