diff --git a/examples/nvme/perf/Makefile b/examples/nvme/perf/Makefile
index 21d5c8f04..573f56a03 100644
--- a/examples/nvme/perf/Makefile
+++ b/examples/nvme/perf/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.common.mk
 APP = perf
 
 ifeq ($(OS),Linux)
-LIBS += -laio
+SYS_LIBS += -laio
 CFLAGS += -DHAVE_LIBAIO
 endif
 
diff --git a/mk/nvme.libtest.mk b/mk/nvme.libtest.mk
index acaa13401..22cf38fa6 100644
--- a/mk/nvme.libtest.mk
+++ b/mk/nvme.libtest.mk
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ LIBS += $(SOCK_MODULES_LINKER_ARGS)
 LIBS += $(SPDK_LIB_LINKER_ARGS) $(ENV_LINKER_ARGS)
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RDMA),y)
-LIBS += -libverbs -lrdmacm
+SYS_LIBS += -libverbs -lrdmacm
 endif
 
 all: $(APP)
diff --git a/mk/spdk.common.mk b/mk/spdk.common.mk
index 728b0f15a..2c150cf94 100644
--- a/mk/spdk.common.mk
+++ b/mk/spdk.common.mk
@@ -130,23 +130,23 @@ ifeq ($(OS),FreeBSD)
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RDMA),y)
 # RDMA Userspace Verbs Library
 ifneq ("$(wildcard /usr/lib/libibverbs.*)","")
-LIBS += -libverbs
+SYS_LIBS += -libverbs
 endif
 # RDMA Connection Manager Library
 ifneq ("$(wildcard /usr/lib/librdmacm.*)","")
-LIBS += -lrdmacm
+SYS_LIBS += -lrdmacm
 endif
 # Mellanox - MLX4 HBA Userspace Library
 ifneq ("$(wildcard /usr/lib/libmlx4.*)","")
-LIBS += -lmlx4
+SYS_LIBS += -lmlx4
 endif
 # Mellanox - MLX5 HBA Userspace Library
 ifneq ("$(wildcard /usr/lib/libmlx5.*)","")
-LIBS += -lmlx5
+SYS_LIBS += -lmlx5
 endif
 # Chelsio HBA Userspace Library
 ifneq ("$(wildcard /usr/lib/libcxgb4.*)","")
-LIBS += -lcxgb4
+SYS_LIBS += -lcxgb4
 endif
 endif
 endif
diff --git a/test/app/stub/Makefile b/test/app/stub/Makefile
index 015a2e6e7..b4dd7463e 100644
--- a/test/app/stub/Makefile
+++ b/test/app/stub/Makefile
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ LIBS += $(SPDK_LIB_LINKER_ARGS)
 LIBS += $(ENV_LINKER_ARGS)
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RDMA),y)
-LIBS += -libverbs -lrdmacm
+SYS_LIBS += -libverbs -lrdmacm
 endif
 
 all : $(APP)
diff --git a/test/nvme/overhead/Makefile b/test/nvme/overhead/Makefile
index 21dfe05f6..bcb7f38db 100644
--- a/test/nvme/overhead/Makefile
+++ b/test/nvme/overhead/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.common.mk
 APP = overhead
 
 ifeq ($(OS),Linux)
-LIBS += -laio
+SYS_LIBS += -laio
 CFLAGS += -DHAVE_LIBAIO
 endif