diff --git a/racket/src/cs/c/configure b/racket/src/cs/c/configure
index d2deea8f68..ea82897a21 100755
--- a/racket/src/cs/c/configure
+++ b/racket/src/cs/c/configure
@@ -3660,7 +3660,6 @@ case "$host_os" in
     ;;
   linux*)
     MACH_OS=le
-    LIBS="${LIBS} -lncurses"
     ;;
   osf1*)
     ;;
diff --git a/racket/src/cs/c/configure.ac b/racket/src/cs/c/configure.ac
index 141b6fa48f..d9093117d5 100644
--- a/racket/src/cs/c/configure.ac
+++ b/racket/src/cs/c/configure.ac
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ case "$host_os" in
     ;;
   linux*)
     MACH_OS=le
-    LIBS="${LIBS} -lncurses"
     ;;
   osf1*)
     ;;