--- a/src/python/recoll/setup.py.in
+++ b/src/python/recoll/setup.py.in
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 top = os.path.join('..', '..')
 
 
-library_dirs = [os.path.join(top, 'lib')]
+library_dirs = [os.path.join(top, '.libs')]
 if "CYGWIN" in os.environ:
 	libraries =  ['recoll', 'xapian', 'iconv', 'z']
 else:
@@ -18,23 +18,6 @@
 else:
     runtime_library_dirs = [os.path.join('@prefix@', 'lib', 'recoll')]
 
-# Verify that the Recoll library was compiled with the PIC options
-localdefs = os.path.join(top, 'mk', 'localdefs')
-try:
-    lines = open(localdefs, 'r').readlines()
-except:
-    print('You need to build recoll first. Use configure --enable-pic')
-    sys.exit(1)
-picok = False
-for line in lines:
-    if line.find('PICFLAGS') == 0:
-        picok = True
-        break
-if not picok:
-    print('You need to rebuild recoll with PIC enabled. Use configure --enable-pic and make clean')
-    sys.exit(1)
-
-                               
 module1 = Extension('recoll',
                     define_macros = [('MAJOR_VERSION', '1'),
                                      ('MINOR_VERSION', '0'),