--- a/src/luaconf.h
+++ b/src/luaconf.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #if defined(LUA_USE_LINUX)
 #define LUA_USE_POSIX
 #define LUA_USE_DLOPEN		/* needs an extra library: -ldl */
-#define LUA_USE_READLINE	/* needs some extra libraries */
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LUA_USE_MACOSX)
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ LIBS= -lm $(MYLIBS)
 MYCFLAGS=
 MYLDFLAGS=
 MYLIBS=
+# USE_READLINE=1
 
 # == END OF USER SETTINGS. NO NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE =========
 
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ echo:
 	@echo "MYLIBS = $(MYLIBS)"
 
 # convenience targets for popular platforms
-
+RFLAG=$(if $(USE_READLINE),-DLUA_USE_READLINE)
 none:
 	@echo "Please choose a platform:"
 	@echo "   $(PLATS)"
@@ -90,16 +91,16 @@ bsd:
 	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS="-DLUA_USE_POSIX -DLUA_USE_DLOPEN" MYLIBS="-Wl,-E"
 
 freebsd:
-	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS="-DLUA_USE_LINUX" MYLIBS="-Wl,-E -lreadline"
+	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS="-DLUA_USE_LINUX" $(RFLAG)" MYLIBS="-Wl,-E$(if $(USE_READLINE), -lreadline)"
 
 generic:
 	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS=
 
 linux:
-	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS=-DLUA_USE_LINUX MYLIBS="-Wl,-E -ldl -lreadline -lhistory -lncurses"
+	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS="-DLUA_USE_LINUX $(RFLAG)" MYLIBS="-Wl,-E -ldl $(if $(USE_READLINE), -lreadline -lhistory -lncurses)"
 
 macosx:
-	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS=-DLUA_USE_LINUX MYLIBS="-lreadline"
+	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS=-DLUA_USE_LINUX $(if $(USE_READLINE), MYLIBS="-lreadline")
 # use this on Mac OS X 10.3-
 #	$(MAKE) all MYCFLAGS=-DLUA_USE_MACOSX