diff --git a/config/CONFIG_SITE.Host.linux-x86 b/config/CONFIG_SITE.Host.linux-x86
index 97d5a0337..64614c61b 100644
--- a/config/CONFIG_SITE.Host.linux-x86
+++ b/config/CONFIG_SITE.Host.linux-x86
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 
 # linux-x86 is the new name for linux
 -include $(EPICS_BASE)/config/CONFIG_SITE.Host.Linux
+
+SHARED_LIBRARY=YES
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.Common b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.Common
index ee8556c06..ad70708f4 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.Common
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.Common
@@ -7,3 +7,9 @@
 # JBA test override values
 #CROSS_COMPILER_TARGET_ARCHS = vxWorks-68040
 
+# NOTE: If YES then LD_LIBRARY_PATH must include the full
+# pathname $(INSTALL_LOCATION)/lib/$(EPICS_HOST_ARCH) for
+# both the base # build and when invoking base executables.
+# Alternatively the full pathname can be added to /etc/ld.so.conf
+# and ldconfig run to inform the system of the shared libraries.
+SHARED_LIBRARIES=YES