diff --git a/libbacktrace/Makefile.am b/libbacktrace/Makefile.am
index 750ed80ed05..5677ecd8865 100644
--- a/libbacktrace/Makefile.am
+++ b/libbacktrace/Makefile.am
@@ -106,6 +106,10 @@ check_DATA =
 # Flags to use when compiling test programs.
 libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS = $(EXTRA_FLAGS) $(WARN_FLAGS) -g
 
+# Flags to use when linking test programs.
+# This avoids generating a shell script when configured with --enable-shared.
+libbacktrace_testing_ldflags = -no-install
+
 if USE_DSYMUTIL
 
 %.dSYM: %
@@ -170,54 +174,63 @@ xcoff_%.c: xcoff.c
 
 test_elf_32_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_elf_32_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_elf_32_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_elf_32_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la elf_32.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_elf_32
 
 test_elf_64_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_elf_64_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_elf_64_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_elf_64_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la elf_64.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_elf_64
 
 test_macho_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_macho_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_macho_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_macho_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la macho.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_macho
 
 test_xcoff_32_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_xcoff_32_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_xcoff_32_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_xcoff_32_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la xcoff_32.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_xcoff_32
 
 test_xcoff_64_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_xcoff_64_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_xcoff_64_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_xcoff_64_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la xcoff_64.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_xcoff_64
 
 test_pecoff_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_pecoff_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_pecoff_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_pecoff_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la pecoff.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_pecoff
 
 test_unknown_SOURCES = test_format.c testlib.c
 test_unknown_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+test_unknown_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 test_unknown_LDADD = libbacktrace_noformat.la unknown.lo
 
 BUILDTESTS += test_unknown
 
 unittest_SOURCES = unittest.c testlib.c
 unittest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+unittest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 unittest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += unittest
 
 unittest_alloc_SOURCES = $(unittest_SOURCES)
 unittest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+unittest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 unittest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += unittest_alloc
@@ -253,7 +266,7 @@ if HAVE_OBJCOPY_DEBUGLINK
 
 b2test_SOURCES = $(btest_SOURCES)
 b2test_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
-b2test_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--build-id
+b2test_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--build-id $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 b2test_LDADD = libbacktrace_elf_for_test.la
 
 check_PROGRAMS += b2test
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if HAVE_DWZ
 
 b3test_SOURCES = $(btest_SOURCES)
 b3test_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
-b3test_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--build-id
+b3test_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--build-id $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 b3test_LDADD = libbacktrace_elf_for_test.la
 
 check_PROGRAMS += b3test
@@ -277,6 +290,7 @@ endif HAVE_ELF
 
 btest_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 btest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -O
+btest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 btest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += btest
@@ -289,6 +303,7 @@ if HAVE_ELF
 
 btest_lto_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 btest_lto_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -O -flto
+btest_lto_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 btest_lto_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += btest_lto
@@ -297,6 +312,7 @@ endif HAVE_ELF
 
 btest_alloc_SOURCES = $(btest_SOURCES)
 btest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+btest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 btest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += btest_alloc
@@ -331,6 +347,7 @@ endif HAVE_DWZ
 
 stest_SOURCES = stest.c
 stest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+stest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 stest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += stest
@@ -341,6 +358,7 @@ endif USE_DSYMUTIL
 
 stest_alloc_SOURCES = $(stest_SOURCES)
 stest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+stest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 stest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += stest_alloc
@@ -353,6 +371,7 @@ if HAVE_ELF
 
 ztest_SOURCES = ztest.c testlib.c
 ztest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -DSRCDIR=\"$(srcdir)\"
+ztest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ztest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 ztest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
@@ -367,11 +386,13 @@ BUILDTESTS += ztest
 
 ztest_alloc_SOURCES = $(ztest_SOURCES)
 ztest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(ztest_CFLAGS)
+ztest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 
 BUILDTESTS += ztest_alloc
 
 zstdtest_SOURCES = zstdtest.c testlib.c
 zstdtest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -DSRCDIR=\"$(srcdir)\"
+zstdtest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 zstdtest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 zstdtest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
@@ -386,6 +407,7 @@ BUILDTESTS += zstdtest
 
 zstdtest_alloc_SOURCES = $(zstdtest_SOURCES)
 zstdtest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(zstdtest_CFLAGS)
+zstdtest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 
 BUILDTESTS += zstdtest_alloc
 
@@ -393,6 +415,7 @@ endif HAVE_ELF
 
 edtest_SOURCES = edtest.c edtest2_build.c testlib.c
 edtest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+edtest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 edtest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += edtest
@@ -403,6 +426,7 @@ endif USE_DSYMUTIL
 
 edtest_alloc_SOURCES = $(edtest_SOURCES)
 edtest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
+edtest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 edtest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 if USE_DSYMUTIL
@@ -423,6 +447,7 @@ BUILDTESTS += ttest
 
 ttest_SOURCES = ttest.c testlib.c
 ttest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -pthread
+ttest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ttest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 if USE_DSYMUTIL
@@ -433,6 +458,7 @@ BUILDTESTS += ttest_alloc
 
 ttest_alloc_SOURCES = $(ttest_SOURCES)
 ttest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(ttest_CFLAGS)
+ttest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ttest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 if USE_DSYMUTIL
@@ -471,12 +497,12 @@ if HAVE_COMPRESSED_DEBUG
 
 ctestg_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 ctestg_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
-ctestg_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu
+ctestg_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ctestg_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 ctesta_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 ctesta_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
-ctesta_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi
+ctesta_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ctesta_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += ctestg ctesta
@@ -485,7 +511,7 @@ if HAVE_COMPRESSED_DEBUG_ZSTD
 
 ctestzstd_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 ctestzstd_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS)
-ctestzstd_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zstd
+ctestzstd_LDFLAGS = -Wl,--compress-debug-sections=zstd $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ctestzstd_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += ctestzstd
@@ -494,12 +520,12 @@ endif
 
 ctestg_alloc_SOURCES = $(ctestg_SOURCES)
 ctestg_alloc_CFLAGS = $(ctestg_CFLAGS)
-ctestg_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(ctestg_LDFLAGS)
+ctestg_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(ctestg_LDFLAGS) $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ctestg_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 ctesta_alloc_SOURCES = $(ctesta_SOURCES)
 ctesta_alloc_CFLAGS = $(ctesta_CFLAGS)
-ctesta_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(ctesta_LDFLAGS)
+ctesta_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(ctesta_LDFLAGS) $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 ctesta_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += ctestg_alloc ctesta_alloc
@@ -510,6 +536,7 @@ if HAVE_DWARF5
 
 dwarf5_SOURCES = btest.c testlib.c
 dwarf5_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -gdwarf-5
+dwarf5_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 dwarf5_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += dwarf5
@@ -520,6 +547,7 @@ endif USE_DSYMUTIL
 
 dwarf5_alloc_SOURCES = $(dwarf5_SOURCES)
 dwarf5_alloc_CFLAGS = $(dwarf5_CFLAGS)
+dwarf5_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 dwarf5_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += dwarf5_alloc
@@ -532,6 +560,7 @@ endif
 
 mtest_SOURCES = mtest.c testlib.c
 mtest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -O
+mtest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 mtest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 BUILDTESTS += mtest
@@ -564,10 +593,12 @@ if HAVE_ELF
 
 xztest_SOURCES = xztest.c testlib.c
 xztest_CFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_TEST_CFLAGS) -DSRCDIR=\"$(srcdir)\"
+xztest_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 xztest_LDADD = libbacktrace.la
 
 xztest_alloc_SOURCES = $(xztest_SOURCES)
 xztest_alloc_CFLAGS = $(xztest_CFLAGS)
+xztest_alloc_LDFLAGS = $(libbacktrace_testing_ldflags)
 xztest_alloc_LDADD = libbacktrace_alloc.la
 
 if HAVE_LIBLZMA
