--- configure.ac
+++ configure.ac	2012-06-04 10:57:01.592841076 +0000
@@ -170,9 +170,17 @@ else
   else
     WATCH_NCURSES_LIBS="$NCURSES_LIBS"
   fi
+  cf_tinfo=""
+  AC_CHECK_LIB(tinfo, setupterm, [cf_tinfo="tinfo"])
+  if test x$cf_tinfo = xtinfo ; then
+    TOP_NCURSES_LIBS="-ltinfo"
+  else
+    TOP_NCURSES_LIBS="$NCURSES_LIBS"
+  fi
 fi
 AC_SUBST([NCURSES_LIBS])
 AC_SUBST([WATCH_NCURSES_LIBS])
+AC_SUBST([TOP_NCURSES_LIBS])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([kill],
   AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-kill], [do not build kill]),
--- top/Makefile.am
+++ top/Makefile.am	2012-06-04 10:58:15.024104602 +0000
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ top_SOURCES =  \
 dist_man_MANS = \
 	top.1
 
-top_LDADD = @NCURSES_LIBS@
+top_LDADD = @TOP_NCURSES_LIBS@
 endif
 
 EXTRA_DIST =