diff --git a/README b/README
index 0548e6ad1b..509b45f6fd 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ REQUIREMENTS:
         libpython (optional)
         make, gcc, and similar tools
 
+        To sucessfully use --compat-libs, gcc >= 4.8 seems necessary.
+
         During runtime, you need the following additional
         dependencies:
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 939ba6dcf0..6c1ba7c23b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ CC_CHECK_FLAGS_APPEND([with_ldflags], [LDFLAGS], [\
         -Wl,--no-undefined \
         -Wl,--gc-sections \
         -Wl,-z,relro \
-        -Wl,-z,now])
+        -Wl,-z,now \
+        -Wl,-fuse-ld=gold])
 AC_SUBST([OUR_LDFLAGS], "$with_ldflags $address_sanitizer_ldflags")
 
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(pid_t)