diff --git a/build/common.mk b/build/common.mk
index 2366cb7d9a..da386abf73 100644
--- a/build/common.mk
+++ b/build/common.mk
@@ -1737,9 +1737,9 @@ ESMF_CXXCOMPILEPATHSTHIRD    += -I$(ESMF_PIO_INCLUDE)
 ESMF_F90COMPILEPATHSTHIRD    += -I$(ESMF_PIO_INCLUDE)
 endif
 ifdef ESMF_PIO_LIBS
-ESMF_CXXLINKLIBSTHIRD     += $(ESMF_PIO_LIBS)
+ESMF_CXXLINKLIBSTHIRD     := $(addprefix $(ESMF_PIO_LIBS) ,$(ESMF_CXXLINKLIBSTHIRD))
 ESMF_CXXLINKRPATHSTHIRD   += $(addprefix $(ESMF_CXXRPATHPREFIX),$(subst -L,,$(filter -L%,$(ESMF_PIO_LIBS))))
-ESMF_F90LINKLIBSTHIRD     += $(ESMF_PIO_LIBS)
+ESMF_F90LINKLIBSTHIRD     := $(addprefix $(ESMF_PIO_LIBS) ,$(ESMF_F90LINKLIBSTHIRD))
 ESMF_F90LINKRPATHSTHIRD   += $(addprefix $(ESMF_F90RPATHPREFIX),$(subst -L,,$(filter -L%,$(ESMF_PIO_LIBS))))
 endif
 ifdef ESMF_PIO_LIBPATH