diff --git a/configure b/configure
index e17281ea6b..08ceb437be 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2157,7 +2157,7 @@ if test "$curses" != "no" ; then
   if test "$mingw32" = "yes" ; then
     curses_list="-lpdcurses"
   else
-    curses_list="-lncurses:-lcurses:$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null)"
+    curses_list="$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null):-lncurses:-lcurses"
   fi
   curses_found=no
   cat > $TMPC << EOF