diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index df353493..3c617a76 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ libchibi-sexp$(SO): $(SEXP_OBJS)
 libchibi-scheme$(SO): $(SEXP_OBJS) $(EVAL_OBJS)
 	$(CC) $(CLIBFLAGS) $(CLINKFLAGS) -o $@ $^ $(XLDFLAGS)
 
+libchibi-scheme.a: $(SEXP_OBJS) $(EVAL_OBJS)
+	$(AR) rcs $@ $^
+
 chibi-scheme$(EXE): main.o libchibi-scheme$(SO)
 	$(CC) $(XCPPFLAGS) $(XCFLAGS) -o $@ $< -L. -lchibi-scheme
 
diff --git a/Makefile.libs b/Makefile.libs
index 9605380f..02599184 100644
--- a/Makefile.libs
+++ b/Makefile.libs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 # install configuration
 
 CC        ?= cc
+AR        ?= ar
 CD        ?= cd
 RM        ?= rm -f
 LS        ?= ls