diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/giflib/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/giflib/package.py
index 1b97ad975cb..8dbf7af34b1 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/giflib/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/giflib/package.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def install_targets(self):
         targets = ['install']
         if self.spec.satisfies('@5.2.0:'):
             targets.append('PREFIX={0}'.format(self.spec.prefix))
+            targets.append('LIBMAJOR={0}'.format(self.spec.version.up_to(1)))
+            targets.append('LIBVER={0}'.format(self.spec.version))
 
         return targets