diff --git a/collects/readline/mzrl.ss b/collects/readline/mzrl.ss
index 2028f526a8..20e9dc8d6b 100644
--- a/collects/readline/mzrl.ss
+++ b/collects/readline/mzrl.ss
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 ;; libtermcap needed on some platforms
 (define libtermcap  (with-handlers ([exn:fail? void]) (ffi-lib "libtermcap")))
-(define libreadline (ffi-lib "libreadline" '("" "5" "4")))
+(define libreadline (ffi-lib "libreadline" '("5" "4" "")))
 
 (define make-byte-string ; helper for the two types below
   (get-ffi-obj "scheme_make_byte_string" #f (_fun _pointer -> _scheme)))