diff --git a/configure/RULES_BUILD b/configure/RULES_BUILD
index 45e580793..76fcd6cd0 100644
--- a/configure/RULES_BUILD
+++ b/configure/RULES_BUILD
@@ -368,8 +368,9 @@ $(INSTALL_SHRLIB)/lib%: lib%
 	@echo "Installing library $@"
 	@$(INSTALL_LIBRARY) -d -m 555 $< $(INSTALL_SHRLIB)
 ifdef SHRLIB_VERSION
-	@$(RM) $(@:%.$(SHRLIB_VERSION)=%)
-	ln -s $< $(@:%.$(SHRLIB_VERSION)=%) 
+	@$(RM) $(subst .$(SHRLIB_VERSION),,$@)
+	ln -s $< $(subst .$(SHRLIB_VERSION),,$@)
+
 endif # SHRLIB_VERSION
 
 ifneq ($(INSTALL_TCLLIB),$(INSTALL_BIN))