diff --git a/gnu/packages/image.scm b/gnu/packages/image.scm
index f348a61c9b76083f16d577778ab3e01fdc1acaf3..9b8a3a63da904324abee5657b7c1802b4a07f6c3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/image.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/image.scm
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ (define (apply-patch file)
              (substitute* "Makefile.in"
                (("^scripts/symbols.chk") "")
                (("check: scripts/symbols.chk") ""))
-             (zero? (system* "libtool"))
              #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("apng" ,(origin