diff --git a/WINGs/Makefile.am b/WINGs/Makefile.am
index 5f8fa51a..3ada7950 100644
--- a/WINGs/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/Makefile.am
@@ -10,12 +10,10 @@ libWUtil_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info @WUTIL_VERSION@
 
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libWUtil.la libWINGs.la
 
-wutilrs = $(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a
 wraster = $(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la
 
-LDADD= libWUtil.la libWINGs.la $(wraster) $(wutilrs) @INTLIBS@
-libWINGs_la_LIBADD = libWUtil.la $(wraster) $(wutilrs) @XLIBS@ @XFT_LIBS@ @FCLIBS@ @LIBM@ @PANGO_LIBS@
-libWUtil_la_LIBADD = $(wutilrs)
+LDADD= libWUtil.la libWINGs.la $(wraster) @INTLIBS@
+libWINGs_la_LIBADD = libWUtil.la $(wraster) @XLIBS@ @XFT_LIBS@ @FCLIBS@ @LIBM@ @PANGO_LIBS@
 
 EXTRA_DIST = BUGS make-rgb Examples Extras Tests
 
diff --git a/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/Makefile.am b/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/Makefile.am
index 78d6f4c8..8be4b65f 100644
--- a/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/Makefile.am
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ RUST_EXTRA = \
 	Cargo.lock \
 	Cargo.toml
 
-wutil_c_lib = $(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la
-wings_c_lib = $(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la
-wings_rs_lib = $(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a
-wings_rs_test_lib = target/debug/libwings_rs_tests.rlib
-
 rustlib: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
 	cargo build
 
diff --git a/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/build.rs b/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/build.rs
index 4dacd121..830385df 100644
--- a/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/build.rs
+++ b/WINGs/wings-rs-tests/build.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 fn main() {
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=static=X11");
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=static=xcb");
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=static=Xau");
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=static=Xdmcp");
-
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-search=../.libs");
+    println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg=-lX11");
+
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lWUtil");
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lWINGs");
-    println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lX11");
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lXft");
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lpango-1.0");
     println!("cargo::rustc-link-arg-tests=-lpangoxft-1.0");
diff --git a/WINGs/wings-rs/Cargo.toml b/WINGs/wings-rs/Cargo.toml
index 3d12b5ed..0ddf2dac 100644
--- a/WINGs/wings-rs/Cargo.toml
+++ b/WINGs/wings-rs/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2024"
 
 [lib]
-crate-type = ["staticlib", "rlib"]
+crate-type = ["cdylib", "rlib"]
 
 [dependencies]
 libc = "0.2.177"
diff --git a/WINGs/wings-rs/Makefile.am b/WINGs/wings-rs/Makefile.am
index ea2e386b..6c22a04a 100644
--- a/WINGs/wings-rs/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/wings-rs/Makefile.am
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ src/WINGsP.rs: ../WINGs/WINGsP.h ../../wrlib/wraster.h ../WINGs/WINGs.h ../WINGs
 Cargo.lock:
 	$(CARGO) build
 
-target/debug/libwings_rs.a: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
+target/debug/libwings_rs.so: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
 	$(CARGO) build
 
 check-local:
@@ -70,4 +70,4 @@ clean-local:
 	$(CARGO) clean
 	rm -f src/WINGsP.rs
 
-all: target/debug/libwings_rs.a
+all: target/debug/libwings_rs.so
diff --git a/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am b/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
index 13621007..37c34b87 100644
--- a/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
+++ b/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = -DRESOURCE_PATH=\"$(wpdatadir)\" -DWMAKER_RESOURCE_PATH=\"$(pkgdat
 WPrefs_DEPENDENCIES = $(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la
 
 WPrefs_LDADD = \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a\
+	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.so\
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la\
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a\
+	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.so\
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la\
 	$(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la \
 	@PANGO_LIBS@ \
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index b967829b..18fc976c 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -155,14 +155,18 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = $(DFLAGS) \
 	-I$(top_srcdir)/WINGs -I$(top_builddir)/WINGs \
 	@HEADER_SEARCH_PATH@
 
+wmaker_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wmaker-rs/target/debug
 
 wmaker_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la\
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la\
 	$(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la\
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a\
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a\
-	$(top_builddir)/wmaker-rs/target/debug/libwmaker_rs.a\
+	-lwutil_rs\
+	-lwings_rs\
+	-lwmaker_rs\
 	@PANGO_LIBS@ \
 	@FCLIBS@ \
 	@XLFLAGS@ \
diff --git a/start-captive-wmaker.sh b/start-captive-wmaker.sh
index 35278414..55240284 100755
--- a/start-captive-wmaker.sh
+++ b/start-captive-wmaker.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ rename_dir_if_possible "$wm_style"        "$wm_styles"
 make_dir_if_needed     "$wm_styles"
 make_dir_if_needed     "$wm_themes"
 
-export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$project_base/wrlib/.libs:$project_base/WINGs/.libs:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH" 
+export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$project_base/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug:$project_base/wutil-rs/target/debug:$project_base/wmaker-rs/target/debug:$project_base/wrlib/.libs:$project_base/WINGs/.libs:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH" 
 
 copy_defaults_if_needed WindowMaker
 copy_defaults_if_needed WMRootMenu
diff --git a/util/Makefile.am b/util/Makefile.am
index c4d6bec6..9271326d 100644
--- a/util/Makefile.am
+++ b/util/Makefile.am
@@ -18,77 +18,115 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 
 liblist= @LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATH@ @INTLIBS@
 
+wdwrite_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wdwrite_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
+wdread_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wdread_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
-wxcopy_LDADD = @XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@ \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a
+wxcopy_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
+wxcopy_LDADD = @XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@ -lwutil_rs
 
 wxpaste_LDADD = @XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@
 
+getstyle_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 getstyle_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	 $(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
 getstyle_SOURCES = getstyle.c fontconv.c common.h
 
+setstyle_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 setstyle_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	 $(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	@XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@ $(liblist)
 
 setstyle_SOURCES = setstyle.c fontconv.c common.h
 
+convertfonts_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 convertfonts_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
 convertfonts_SOURCES = convertfonts.c fontconv.c common.h
 
+seticons_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 seticons_LDADD= \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	 $(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
+geticonset_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 geticonset_LDADD= \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	 $(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	$(liblist)
 
+wmagnify_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wmagnify_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a \
 	$(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la \
+	-lwutil_rs \
+	-lwings_rs \
 	@XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@ @INTLIBS@ @FCLIBS@ @PANGO_LIBS@
 
+wmsetbg_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug
+
 wmsetbg_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la \
+	-lwings_rs \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	@XLFLAGS@ @LIBXINERAMA@ @XLIBS@ @INTLIBS@ @FCLIBS@ @PANGO_LIBS@
 
+wmgenmenu_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wmgenmenu_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	@INTLIBS@
 
 wmgenmenu_SOURCES = wmgenmenu.c wmgenmenu.h
 
+wmmenugen_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wmmenugen_LDADD = \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	@INTLIBS@
 
 wmmenugen_SOURCES = wmmenugen.c wmmenugen.h wmmenugen_misc.c \
@@ -97,12 +135,16 @@ wmmenugen_SOURCES = wmmenugen.c wmmenugen.h wmmenugen_misc.c \
 
 wmiv_CFLAGS = @PANGO_CFLAGS@ @PTHREAD_CFLAGS@
 
+wmiv_LDFLAGS = \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug \
+	-L$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug
+
 wmiv_LDADD = \
 	$(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/wutil-rs/target/debug/libwutil_rs.a \
-	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/wings-rs/target/debug/libwings_rs.a \
+	$(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.la \
+	-lwings_rs \
+	-lwutil_rs \
 	@XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@ @GFXLIBS@ \
 	@PANGO_LIBS@ @PTHREAD_LIBS@ @LIBEXIF@
 
diff --git a/wmaker-rs/Cargo.toml b/wmaker-rs/Cargo.toml
index bc2c4d82..48dab099 100644
--- a/wmaker-rs/Cargo.toml
+++ b/wmaker-rs/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2024"
 
 [lib]
-crate-type = ["staticlib"]
+crate-type = ["cdylib"]
 
 [dependencies]
 x11 = "2.21.0"
diff --git a/wmaker-rs/Makefile.am b/wmaker-rs/Makefile.am
index 1301fc1b..ff3ae410 100644
--- a/wmaker-rs/Makefile.am
+++ b/wmaker-rs/Makefile.am
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ RUST_SOURCES = \
 RUST_EXTRA = \
 	Cargo.lock
 
-target/debug/libwmaker_rs.a: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
+target/debug/libwmaker_rs.so: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
 	$(CARGO) build
 
 check-local:
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ check-local:
 clean-local:
 	$(CARGO) clean
 
-all: target/debug/libwmaker_rs.a
+all: target/debug/libwmaker_rs.so
diff --git a/wutil-rs/Cargo.toml b/wutil-rs/Cargo.toml
index d9f7277b..b4b1c6c5 100644
--- a/wutil-rs/Cargo.toml
+++ b/wutil-rs/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2024"
 
 [lib]
-crate-type = ["staticlib","rlib"]
+crate-type = ["cdylib","rlib"]
 
 [build-dependencies]
 cc = "1.0"
diff --git a/wutil-rs/Makefile.am b/wutil-rs/Makefile.am
index fa126788..6b845741 100644
--- a/wutil-rs/Makefile.am
+++ b/wutil-rs/Makefile.am
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ RUST_EXTRA = \
 Cargo.lock:
 	$(CARGO) build
 
-target/debug/libwutil_rs.a: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
+target/debug/libwutil_rs.so: $(RUST_SOURCES) $(RUST_EXTRA)
 	$(CARGO) build
 
 check-local:
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ check-local:
 clean-local:
 	$(CARGO) clean
 
-all: target/debug/libwutil_rs.a
+all: target/debug/libwutil_rs.so