diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index db1daf4c3..9964cc4a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@ invokes cmake commands as needed.
 
          make release-static
 
+Dependencies need to be built with -fPIC. Static libraries usually aren't, so you may have to build them yourself with -fPIC. Refer to their documentation for how to build them.
+
 * **Optional**: build documentation in `doc/html` (omit `HAVE_DOT=YES` if `graphviz` is not installed):
 
         HAVE_DOT=YES doxygen Doxyfile