diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 9e7fad4a83e..6e48ac07b75 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ LIBBITCOIN_WALLET_TOOL=libbitcoin_wallet_tool.a
 endif
 
 LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO = $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO_BASE)
+if USE_ASM
+LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO_SSE4 = crypto/libbitcoin_crypto_sse4.la
+LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO += $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO_SSE4)
+endif
 if ENABLE_SSE41
 LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO_SSE41 = crypto/libbitcoin_crypto_sse41.la
 LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO += $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO_SSE41)
@@ -541,6 +545,10 @@ libbitcoin_wallet_tool_a_SOURCES = \
 #
 
 # crypto #
+
+# crypto_base contains the unspecialized (unoptimized) versions of our
+# crypto functions. Functions that require custom compiler flags and/or
+# runtime opt-in are omitted.
 crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_base_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS)
 
 # Specify -static in both CXXFLAGS and LDFLAGS so libtool will only build a
@@ -581,9 +589,12 @@ crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_base_la_SOURCES = \
   crypto/siphash.cpp \
   crypto/siphash.h
 
-if USE_ASM
-crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_base_la_SOURCES += crypto/sha256_sse4.cpp
-endif
+# See explanation for -static in crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_base_la's LDFLAGS and
+# CXXFLAGS above
+crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_sse4_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) -static
+crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_sse4_la_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(PIE_FLAGS) -static
+crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_sse4_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS)
+crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_sse4_la_SOURCES = crypto/sha256_sse4.cpp
 
 # See explanation for -static in crypto_libbitcoin_crypto_base_la's LDFLAGS and
 # CXXFLAGS above