diff --git a/classes/flto-automake.bbclass b/classes/flto-automake.bbclass
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..517bd5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/flto-automake.bbclass
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+inherit autotools
+
+# use gcc equivalents of AR and RANLIB
+# to use -flto with shared libs
+PACKAGECONFIG_CONFARGS += " AR=${TARGET_PREFIX}gcc-ar \
+                            RANLIB=${TARGET_PREFIX}gcc-ranlib"