diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2751f0f0..48bb768e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -267,23 +267,15 @@ AC_CHECK_LIB(
 	]
 )
 
-dnl check for libltdl. If libltdl is not found, native dlopen/LoadLibrary is used
-AC_ARG_VAR([LTLIB_CFLAGS], [C compiler flags for libltdl])
-AC_ARG_VAR([LTLIB_LIBS], [linker flags for libltdl])
-if test -z "${LTLIB_LIBS}"; then
-	AC_CHECK_LIB(
-		[ltdl],
-		[lt_dlopen],
-		[LTLIB_LIBS="-lltdl"]
-	)
-fi
-
-saved_CFLAGS="${CFLAGS}"
-CFLAGS="${CFLAGS} ${LTLIB_CFLAGS}"
-AC_CHECK_HEADERS([ltdl.h])
-CFLAGS="${saved_CFLAGS}"
-
 if test "${WIN32}" = "no"; then
+	dnl dl support
+	AC_CHECK_LIB(
+		[dl],
+		[dlopen],
+		,
+		[AC_MSG_ERROR([libdl required])]
+	)
+
 	dnl Special check for pthread support.
 	ACX_PTHREAD(
 		[AC_DEFINE(
@@ -636,8 +628,6 @@ Compiler flags:          ${CFLAGS}
 Linker flags:            ${LDFLAGS}
 Libraries:               ${LIBS}
 
-LTLIB_CFLAGS:            ${LTLIB_CFLAGS}
-LTLIB_LIBS:              ${LTLIB_LIBS}
 READLINE_CFLAGS:         ${READLINE_CFLAGS}
 READLINE_LIBS:           ${READLINE_LIBS}
 ZLIB_CFLAGS:             ${ZLIB_CFLAGS}
diff --git a/src/common/Makefile.am b/src/common/Makefile.am
index 95c915ed..0b2fe9fc 100644
--- a/src/common/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/common/Makefile.am
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ dist_noinst_DATA = \
 	compat_getopt_main.c \
 	README.compat_strlcpy compat_strlcpy.3
 
-AM_CFLAGS = $(LTLIB_CFLAGS)
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/src
 
 libcompat_la_SOURCES = \
@@ -18,11 +17,10 @@ libcompat_la_SOURCES = \
 	compat_strlcpy.h compat_strlcpy.c \
 	compat_getpass.h compat_getpass.c \
 	compat_getopt.h compat_getopt.c \
-	simclist.c simclist.h libscdl.c
+	simclist.c simclist.h
 
 compat_getopt_main_LDADD = libcompat.la
 
 libpkcs11_la_SOURCES = libpkcs11.c libpkcs11.h
-libpkcs11_la_LIBADD = libscdl.la
 
 libscdl_la_SOURCES = libscdl.c libscdl.h
diff --git a/src/common/Makefile.mak b/src/common/Makefile.mak
index 55841174..e80bede2 100644
--- a/src/common/Makefile.mak
+++ b/src/common/Makefile.mak
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ common.lib: $(COMMON_OBJECTS)
 	lib $(LIBFLAGS) /out:common.lib $(COMMON_OBJECTS)
 
 libpkcs11.lib: libpkcs11.obj libscdl.obj
-	lib $(LIBFLAGS) /out:libpkcs11.lib libpkcs11.obj libscdl.obj
+	lib $(LIBFLAGS) /out:libpkcs11.lib libpkcs11.obj
 
 libscdl.lib: libscdl.obj
 	lib $(LIBFLAGS) /out:libscdl.lib libscdl.obj
diff --git a/src/common/libpkcs11.c b/src/common/libpkcs11.c
index 22f9bc83..35933fef 100644
--- a/src/common/libpkcs11.c
+++ b/src/common/libpkcs11.c
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#ifdef HAVE_LTDL_H
-#include <ltdl.h>
-#endif
 
 #include "pkcs11/pkcs11.h"
 
@@ -36,9 +33,6 @@ C_LoadModule(const char *mspec, CK_FUNCTION_LIST_PTR_PTR funcs)
 {
 	sc_pkcs11_module_t *mod;
 	CK_RV rv, (*c_get_function_list)(CK_FUNCTION_LIST_PTR_PTR);
-#ifdef HAVE_LTDL_H
-	lt_dlinit();
-#endif
 	mod = calloc(1, sizeof(*mod));
 	mod->_magic = MAGIC;
 
diff --git a/src/common/libscdl.c b/src/common/libscdl.c
index a19ccf27..b66dbd5e 100644
--- a/src/common/libscdl.c
+++ b/src/common/libscdl.c
@@ -18,38 +18,14 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
  */
 
-#include "config.h"
+#if HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "libscdl.h"
 
-#ifdef HAVE_LTDL_H
-#include <ltdl.h>
-/* libltdl is present, pass all calls to it */
-
-void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename)
-{
-	return (void *)lt_dlopen(filename);
-}
-
-void *sc_dlsym(void *handle, const char *symbol)
-{
-	return lt_dlsym((lt_dlhandle)handle, symbol);
-}
-
-const char *sc_dlerror(void)
-{
-	return lt_dlerror();
-}
-
-int sc_dlclose(void *handle)
-{
-	return lt_dlclose((lt_dlhandle)handle);
-}
-
-#else
-/* Small wrappers for native functions, bypassing libltdl */
-#ifdef _WIN32
-/* Use Windows calls */
+#ifdef WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
 void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename)
 {
 	return (void *)LoadLibrary(filename);
@@ -57,7 +33,7 @@ void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename)
 
 void *sc_dlsym(void *handle, const char *symbol)
 {
-	return GetProcAddress(handle, symbol);
+	return GetProcAddress((HANDLE)handle, symbol);
 }
 
 const char *sc_dlerror()
@@ -67,12 +43,10 @@ const char *sc_dlerror()
 
 int sc_dlclose(void *handle)
 {
-	return FreeLibrary(handle);
+	return FreeLibrary((HANDLE)handle);
 }
-
-#elif defined(HAVE_DLFCN_H)
+#else
 #include <dlfcn.h>
-/* Use native interfaces */
 void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename)
 {
 	return dlopen(filename, RTLD_LAZY);
@@ -92,28 +66,4 @@ int sc_dlclose(void *handle)
 {
 	return dlclose(handle);
 }
-
-#else
-/* Dynamic loading is not available */
-void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename)
-{
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-void *sc_dlsym(void *handle, const char *symbol)
-{
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-const char *sc_dlerror()
-{
-	return "dlopen() functionality not available";
-}
-
-int sc_dlclose(void *handle)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
-#endif
 #endif
diff --git a/src/common/libscdl.h b/src/common/libscdl.h
index aee58392..983683dd 100644
--- a/src/common/libscdl.h
+++ b/src/common/libscdl.h
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
  */
 
+#ifndef __LIBSCDL_H
+#define __LIBSCDL_H
 void *sc_dlopen(const char *filename);
 void *sc_dlsym(void *handle, const char *symbol);
 int sc_dlclose(void *handle);
 const char *sc_dlerror(void);
+#endif
diff --git a/src/libopensc/Makefile.am b/src/libopensc/Makefile.am
index 722b8619..eb1a6279 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/libopensc/Makefile.am
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ noinst_HEADERS = cards.h ctbcs.h internal.h esteid.h muscle.h muscle-filesystem.
 
 AM_CPPFLAGS = -DOPENSC_CONF_PATH=\"$(sysconfdir)/opensc.conf\"
 AM_CFLAGS = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_CFLAGS) $(OPTIONAL_OPENCT_CFLAGS) \
-	$(OPTIONAL_PCSC_CFLAGS) $(OPTIONAL_ZLIB_CFLAGS) \
-	$(LTLIB_CFLAGS)
+	$(OPTIONAL_PCSC_CFLAGS) $(OPTIONAL_ZLIB_CFLAGS)
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/src
 
 libopensc_la_SOURCES = \
@@ -51,9 +50,10 @@ if WIN32
 libopensc_la_SOURCES += $(top_builddir)/win32/versioninfo.rc
 endif
 libopensc_la_LIBADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) $(OPTIONAL_OPENCT_LIBS) \
-	$(OPTIONAL_ZLIB_LIBS) $(LTLIB_LIBS) \
+	$(OPTIONAL_ZLIB_LIBS) \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/pkcs15init/libpkcs15init.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/scconf/libscconf.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libscdl.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la
 if WIN32
 libopensc_la_LIBADD += -lws2_32
diff --git a/src/libopensc/ctx.c b/src/libopensc/ctx.c
index 5b6d3bbd..7ff3978e 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/ctx.c
+++ b/src/libopensc/ctx.c
@@ -28,15 +28,12 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 
-#ifdef HAVE_LTDL_H
-#include <ltdl.h>
-#endif
-
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #include <windows.h>
 #include <winreg.h>
 #endif
 
+#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 
 int _sc_add_reader(sc_context_t *ctx, sc_reader_t *reader)
@@ -663,15 +660,6 @@ int sc_context_create(sc_context_t **ctx_out, const sc_context_param_t *parm)
 	sc_debug(ctx, SC_LOG_DEBUG_NORMAL, "==================================="); /* first thing in the log */
 	sc_debug(ctx, SC_LOG_DEBUG_NORMAL, "opensc version: %s", sc_get_version());
 
-#ifdef HAVE_LTDL_H
-	/* initialize ltdl, if available. See scdl.c for more information */
-	if (lt_dlinit() != 0) {
-		sc_debug(ctx, SC_LOG_DEBUG_NORMAL, "lt_dlinit() failed");
-		sc_release_context(ctx);
-		return SC_ERROR_INTERNAL;
-	}
-#endif
-
 #ifdef ENABLE_PCSC
 	ctx->reader_driver = sc_get_pcsc_driver();
 /* XXX: remove cardmod pseudoreader driver */
diff --git a/src/libopensc/internal.h b/src/libopensc/internal.h
index 18e132c5..85402ad9 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/internal.h
+++ b/src/libopensc/internal.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 #include "common/simclist.h"
-#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "libopensc/opensc.h"
 #include "libopensc/log.h"
 #include "libopensc/cards.h"
diff --git a/src/libopensc/pkcs15-syn.c b/src/libopensc/pkcs15-syn.c
index 5c15a357..43e1218a 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/pkcs15-syn.c
+++ b/src/libopensc/pkcs15-syn.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
+#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "asn1.h"
 #include "pkcs15.h"
diff --git a/src/libopensc/pkcs15.c b/src/libopensc/pkcs15.c
index 53646855..c645fabc 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/pkcs15.c
+++ b/src/libopensc/pkcs15.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
+#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "cardctl.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "pkcs15.h"
diff --git a/src/libopensc/reader-ctapi.c b/src/libopensc/reader-ctapi.c
index 3a8f32bd..7caea901 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/reader-ctapi.c
+++ b/src/libopensc/reader-ctapi.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "ctbcs.h"
 
diff --git a/src/libopensc/reader-pcsc.c b/src/libopensc/reader-pcsc.c
index 6a923648..3b3877b7 100644
--- a/src/libopensc/reader-pcsc.c
+++ b/src/libopensc/reader-pcsc.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #endif
 
+#include "common/libscdl.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "internal-winscard.h"
 
diff --git a/src/minidriver/Makefile.am b/src/minidriver/Makefile.am
index 7b389d0d..95a04ed3 100644
--- a/src/minidriver/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/minidriver/Makefile.am
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/src
 
 opensc_minidriver@LIBRARY_BITNESS@_la_SOURCES = minidriver.c minidriver.exports \
 	$(top_builddir)/win32/versioninfo.rc
-opensc_minidriver@LIBRARY_BITNESS@_la_LIBADD =  $(LTLIB_LIBS) \
+opensc_minidriver@LIBRARY_BITNESS@_la_LIBADD =  \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la \
 	-lcrypt32
 opensc_minidriver@LIBRARY_BITNESS@_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) \
diff --git a/src/pkcs11/Makefile.am b/src/pkcs11/Makefile.am
index ba5e70d2..d60b3234 100644
--- a/src/pkcs11/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/pkcs11/Makefile.am
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ OPENSC_PKCS11_SRC = pkcs11-global.c pkcs11-session.c pkcs11-object.c misc.c slot
 	mechanism.c openssl.c framework-pkcs15.c \
 	framework-pkcs15init.c debug.c opensc-pkcs11.exports \
 	pkcs11-display.c pkcs11-display.h
-OPENSC_PKCS11_LIBS = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) $(PTHREAD_LIBS) $(LTLIB_LIBS) \
-	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la
+OPENSC_PKCS11_LIBS = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) $(PTHREAD_LIBS) \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libscdl.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la
 
 opensc_pkcs11_la_SOURCES = $(OPENSC_PKCS11_SRC) $(OPENSC_PKCS11_INC) hack-disabled.c
 opensc_pkcs11_la_LIBADD = $(OPENSC_PKCS11_LIBS)
@@ -31,7 +32,10 @@ onepin_opensc_pkcs11_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) \
 	-module -shared -avoid-version -no-undefined
 
 pkcs11_spy_la_SOURCES = pkcs11-spy.c pkcs11-display.c pkcs11-display.h pkcs11-spy.exports
-pkcs11_spy_la_LIBADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) $(LTLIB_LIBS) $(top_builddir)/src/common/libpkcs11.la
+pkcs11_spy_la_LIBADD = \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libpkcs11.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libscdl.la \
+	$(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS)
 pkcs11_spy_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) \
 	-export-symbols "$(srcdir)/pkcs11-spy.exports" \
 	-module -shared -avoid-version -no-undefined
diff --git a/src/pkcs11/Makefile.mak b/src/pkcs11/Makefile.mak
index afdc7251..bea1e83c 100644
--- a/src/pkcs11/Makefile.mak
+++ b/src/pkcs11/Makefile.mak
@@ -33,5 +33,5 @@ $(TARGET3): $(OBJECTS3) ..\libopensc\opensc.lib
 	echo LIBRARY $* > $*.def
 	echo EXPORTS >> $*.def
 	type $*.exports >> $*.def
-	link $(LINKFLAGS) /dll /def:$*.def /implib:$*.lib /out:$(TARGET3) $(OBJECTS3) ..\libopensc\opensc.lib ..\common\libpkcs11.lib $(OPENSSL_LIB) gdi32.lib advapi32.lib
+	link $(LINKFLAGS) /dll /def:$*.def /implib:$*.lib /out:$(TARGET3) $(OBJECTS3) ..\libopensc\opensc.lib ..\common\libpkcs11.lib ..\common\libscdl.lib $(OPENSSL_LIB) gdi32.lib advapi32.lib
 	if EXIST $(TARGET3).manifest mt -manifest $(TARGET3).manifest -outputresource:$(TARGET3);2
diff --git a/src/tests/Makefile.am b/src/tests/Makefile.am
index 941e1e30..48ac6265 100644
--- a/src/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ SUBDIRS = regression
 noinst_PROGRAMS = base64 lottery p15dump pintest prngtest
 
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/src
-LIBS = $(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la \
+LIBS = \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libscdl.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la
 
 COMMON_SRC = sc-test.c
diff --git a/src/tools/Makefile.am b/src/tools/Makefile.am
index 865eefe2..f2f32295 100644
--- a/src/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ endif
 # compile with $(PTHREAD_CFLAGS) to allow debugging with gdb
 AM_CFLAGS = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_CFLAGS) $(OPTIONAL_READLINE_CFLAGS) $(PTHREAD_CFLAGS)
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/src
-LIBS = $(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la \
-	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la
+LIBS = \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/libopensc/libopensc.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libscdl.la \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libcompat.la
 
 opensc_tool_SOURCES = opensc-tool.c util.c
 piv_tool_SOURCES = piv-tool.c util.c
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ opensc_explorer_LDADD = $(OPTIONAL_READLINE_LIBS)
 pkcs15_tool_SOURCES = pkcs15-tool.c util.c
 pkcs15_tool_LDADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS)
 pkcs11_tool_SOURCES = pkcs11-tool.c util.c
-pkcs11_tool_LDADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) $(LTLIB_LIBS) \
+pkcs11_tool_LDADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS) \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libpkcs11.la
 pkcs15_crypt_SOURCES = pkcs15-crypt.c util.c
 pkcs15_crypt_LDADD = $(OPTIONAL_OPENSSL_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/tools/Makefile.mak b/src/tools/Makefile.mak
index 366f392b..153bff76 100644
--- a/src/tools/Makefile.mak
+++ b/src/tools/Makefile.mak
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ all: $(TARGETS)
 	cl $(COPTS) /c $<
 	link $(LINKFLAGS) /pdb:$*.pdb /out:$@ $*.obj util.obj \
         ..\common\common.lib ..\scconf\scconf.lib ..\libopensc\opensc.lib \
-        ..\pkcs15init\pkcs15init.lib ..\common\libpkcs11.lib \
+        ..\pkcs15init\pkcs15init.lib ..\common\libpkcs11.lib ..\common\libscdl.lib \
         $(TOPDIR)\win32\versioninfo.res $(OPENSSL_LIB) gdi32.lib
 		if EXIST $@.manifest mt -manifest $@.manifest -outputresource:$@;1