diff --git a/README b/README
index 8a15b88..f29cd26 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ Linux build instructions:
 4. Build
       cd cray-sim/simulator
       make build
+   Else for Linux distros that require dynamic linking do:
+      make LINK_TYPE=dynamic build
 5. Build images
       cd ../target/cos_117
       ./build_boot_tape
diff --git a/simulator/common.mak b/simulator/common.mak
index 1ca25b6..a68badc 100644
--- a/simulator/common.mak
+++ b/simulator/common.mak
@@ -141,7 +141,12 @@ INC_DIRS += $(DEP_INC_DIRS) $(EXTRA_INC)
 
 DEFINES += _FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64
 
+ifndef LINK_TYPE
+LINK_TYPE=static
+endif
+
 #	$(if ("$(SYSTEM)","cygwin"), $(1), :lib$(strip $(1)).a)
+ifeq ($(LINK_TYPE),static)
 define static_lib
 	:lib$(strip $(1)).a
 endef
@@ -155,6 +160,13 @@ define static_lib
 	:lib$(strip $(1))-mt.a
 endef
 endif
+else ifeq ($(LINK_TYPE),dynamic)
+define static_lib
+	$(1)
+endef
+else
+$(error LINK_TYPE must be either 'static' or 'dynamic', not '$(LINK_TYPE)')
+endif
 
 #################################################################################
 ### Setting up some common libraries
@@ -181,9 +193,11 @@ COMMON_LIBS += Bcrypt
 endif
 ifeq ($(SYSTEM),linux)
 NCURSES_LIBS += $(call static_lib, ncurses)
+NCURSES_LIBS += $(call static_lib, panel)
+ifeq ($(LINK_TYPE),static)
 NCURSES_LIBS += $(call static_lib, termcap)
 NCURSES_LIBS += $(call static_lib, gpm)
-NCURSES_LIBS += $(call static_lib, panel)
+endif
 BOOST_LIBS += $(call static_lib, rt)
 COMMON_LIBS += pthread
 endif