--- Makefile
+++ Makefile	2011-11-22 13:36:47.115145920 +0000
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ ifneq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),tar)
 ifneq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),extratar)
 ifneq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),beta)
 
+# This macro gcc_library checks for a specifig library
+gcc_library = $(shell if $(CC) dummy.c -o /dev/null -l$(1:lib%=%) > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then echo "-l$(1:lib%=%)"; else echo "$(2)"; fi)
+
+ifneq ($(call gcc_library,libtinfo),)
+CURSES += -ltinfo
+endif
+
 # Unlike the kernel one, this check_gcc goes all the way to
 # producing an executable. There might be a -m64 that works
 # until you go looking for a 64-bit curses library.