diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5ce2b0349..5cb35b8f2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ 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