diff --git a/modules/plugin/samples/default/unix/Makefile.in b/modules/plugin/samples/default/unix/Makefile.in
index 416a48ae6828..00f18d98e43d 100644
--- a/modules/plugin/samples/default/unix/Makefile.in
+++ b/modules/plugin/samples/default/unix/Makefile.in
@@ -39,12 +39,11 @@ CSRCS		= \
 
 DEFINES		+= -D_IMPL_NS_PLUGIN
 
-#CFLAGS += `gtk-config --cflags`
-#
-#LIBS		= \
-#		`gtk-config --libs`\
-#		$(NULL)
+# plugins should always be shared, even in the "static" build
+FORCE_SHARED_LIB = 1
 
+# Force use of PIC
+FORCE_USE_PIC	= 1
 
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
 
diff --git a/modules/plugin/samples/default/windows/Makefile.in b/modules/plugin/samples/default/windows/Makefile.in
index 2079bddf5109..f77d510e3903 100644
--- a/modules/plugin/samples/default/windows/Makefile.in
+++ b/modules/plugin/samples/default/windows/Makefile.in
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ CPPSRCS		= \
 
 DEFINES		+= -D_IMPL_NS_PLUGIN -DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
 
+# plugins should always be shared, even in the "static" build
+FORCE_SHARED_LIB = 1
+
+# Force use of PIC
+FORCE_USE_PIC	= 1
+
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
 
 CXXFLAGS	+= -GX