diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 4bbb15336e..8ff9c2e108 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ endif
 
 # MXSImage needs LibSSL
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_MX23)$(CONFIG_MX28)$(CONFIG_FIT_SIGNATURE),)
-HOSTLOADLIBES_mkimage += -lssl -lcrypto
+HOSTLOADLIBES_mkimage += \
+	$(shell pkg-config --libs libssl libcrypto 2> /dev/null || echo "-lssl -lcrypto")
 endif
 
 HOSTLOADLIBES_dumpimage := $(HOSTLOADLIBES_mkimage)