diff --git a/bindings/python/build.py b/bindings/python/build.py
index e32c9a410..2ba242c26 100644
--- a/bindings/python/build.py
+++ b/bindings/python/build.py
@@ -43,19 +43,22 @@ prefix = env['PREFIX']
 target_path = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik')
 target_path_deprecated = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik2')
 
-libraries = ['mapnik',env['BOOST_PYTHON_LIB']]
+py_env = env.Clone()
+py_env.Append(CPPPATH = env['PYTHON_INCLUDES'])
+
+py_env['LIBS'] = ['mapnik',env['BOOST_PYTHON_LIB']]
 
 # TODO - do solaris/fedora need direct linking too?
 if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin':
     if not env['PYTHON_DYNAMIC_LOOKUP']:
         if env['PNG']:
-            libraries.append('png')
+            py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = 'png')
         if env['JPEG']:
-            libraries.append('jpeg')
-        libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
-        libraries.append('boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+            py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = 'jpeg')
+        py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
+        py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = 'boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
         if env['THREADING'] == 'multi':
-            libraries.append('boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+            py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = 'boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
     ##### Python linking on OS X is tricky ### 
     # Confounding problems are:
@@ -115,6 +118,9 @@ if env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS']:
 else:
     linkflags = python_link_flag
 
+if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
+    py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS=env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS'])
+
 paths = '''
 """Configuration paths of Mapnik fonts and input plugins (auto-generated by SCons)."""
 
@@ -147,9 +153,6 @@ except: pass
 # install the shared object beside the module directory
 sources = glob.glob('*.cpp')
 
-py_env = env.Clone()
-py_env.Append(CPPPATH = env['PYTHON_INCLUDES'])
-
 if 'install' in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     # install the core mapnik python files, including '__init__.py'
     init_files = glob.glob('mapnik/*.py')
@@ -183,8 +186,8 @@ if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
         py_env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --cflags pycairo')
         py_env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DHAVE_PYCAIRO')
 
-libraries.append('boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
-_mapnik = py_env.LoadableModule('mapnik/_mapnik', sources, LIBS=libraries, LDMODULEPREFIX='', LDMODULESUFFIX='.so',LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
+py_env.AppendUnique(LIBS = 'boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+_mapnik = py_env.LoadableModule('mapnik/_mapnik', sources, LDMODULEPREFIX='', LDMODULESUFFIX='.so',LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
 
 Depends(_mapnik, env.subst('../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))