At least with 2.7 and 3.2, each argument is output on a separate line; the results are identical, and the resulting newline messes up the AC_SUBST. --- origsrc/gobject-introspection-1.36.0/m4/python.m4 2012-12-18 10:27:16.000000000 -0600 +++ src/gobject-introspection-1.36.0/m4/python.m4 2013-08-04 22:06:23.578220400 -0500 @@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_CHECK_PYTHON_LIBS], AC_MSG_CHECKING(for libraries required to link against libpython) dnl deduce PYTHON_LIBS if test "x$PYTHON_LIBS" = x; then - PYTHON_LIBS=`$PYTHON-config --ldflags --libs` + PYTHON_LIBS=`$PYTHON-config --libs` fi AC_SUBST(PYTHON_LIBS) dnl check if libpython exist: