diff --git a/jpm b/jpm
index 47f27885..0366d0de 100755
--- a/jpm
+++ b/jpm
@@ -55,10 +55,12 @@
 # linking to external libraries, modify this.
 #
 # Example - (def- extra-lflags ["-lmimalloc"])
-(def- extra-lflags [])
 
 ###END###
 
+(compwhen (not (dyn 'extra-lflags))
+  (def- extra-lflags []))
+
 # Default based on janet binary location
 (def JANET_HEADERPATH (or (os/getenv "JANET_HEADERPATH")
                           (get (install-paths) :headerpath)))