diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7360988eb..bfead80f4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -110,14 +110,6 @@ if test "x$with_plib" != "x" ; then
     EXTRA_DIRS="${EXTRA_DIRS} $with_plib"
 fi
 
-# specify the metakit location
-AC_ARG_WITH(metakit, [  --with-metakit=PREFIX   Specify the prefix path to metakit])
-
-if test "x$with_metakit" != "x" ; then
-    echo "metakit prefix is $with_metakit"
-    EXTRA_DIRS="${EXTRA_DIRS} $with_metakit"
-fi
-
 dnl Used by JSBSim to conditionally compile in fgfs interface code
 AC_DEFINE([FGFS], 1, [Define so that JSBSim compiles in 'library' mode])
 
@@ -395,54 +387,6 @@ if test "x$have_plib_psl" = "xyes"; then
              [Define if plib version is new enough to provide "PSL"])
 fi
 
-dnl Check for MetaKit
-AC_CHECK_HEADER(mk4.h)
-if test "x$ac_cv_header_mk4_h" != "xyes"; then
-    echo
-    echo "MetaKit library not found."
-    echo
-    echo "If your OS does not provide an installable package for MetaKit"
-    echo "you will have to compile and install it first yourself.  A copy"
-    echo "of metakit-$(VERSION).tar.gz is included with SimGear.  You will"
-    echo "have to untar this source code, and follow it's included instructions"
-    echo "to compile and install on your system."
-    echo
-    echo "configure aborted."
-    exit
-fi
-
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([for metakit 2.4.3 or newer])
-saved_LIBS="$LIBS"
-LIBS="$saved_LIBS -lmk4"
-AC_TRY_RUN([
-#include <mk4.h>
-
-#define MIN_MK4_VERSION 243
-
-int main() {
-    int major, minor, micro;
-
-    if ( d4_MetaKitLibraryVersion < MIN_MK4_VERSION ) {
-	 return -1;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-],
-  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes),
-  [AC_MSG_RESULT(wrong version);
-   AC_MSG_ERROR([
-
-Install metakit 2.4.3 or later first.
-
-Or, the compiler may not be finding your libmk4.so library.
-Please check the config.log file for specific details of the
-failure if you believe you have the correct metakit version.
-Also, look up this issue in the FlightGear FAQ.])],
-  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
-)
-
 dnl Check for the presence of SimGear
 AC_CHECK_HEADER(simgear/version.h)
 if test "x$ac_cv_header_simgear_version_h" != "xyes"; then
diff --git a/src/Main/Makefile.am b/src/Main/Makefile.am
index ee60d0671..0a5134b1f 100644
--- a/src/Main/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Main/Makefile.am
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fgfs_LDADD = \
 	-lplibpu -lplibfnt -lplibjs -lplibnet -lplibssg -lplibsg -lplibul \
 	$(network_LIBS) \
         $(PSL_LIBS) \
-	-lmk4 -lz \
+	-lz \
 	$(opengl_LIBS) \
 	$(audio_LIBS)