@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def load():
     if _LOADED:
         return
 
-    from .find_libpython import find_libpython
+    from .find_libpython import linked_libpython
     from os.path import join, dirname
 
     if _RUNTIME is None:
@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@ def load():
         set_default_runtime()
 
     dll_path = join(dirname(__file__), "runtime", "Python.Runtime.dll")
-    libpython = find_libpython()
-    # TODO: Add dirname of libpython to (DY)LD_LIBRARY_PATH or PATH
+    libpython = linked_libpython()
 
-    if _FFI is None and sys.platform != "win32":
+    if libpython and _FFI is None and sys.platform != "win32":
         # Load and leak libpython handle s.t. the .NET runtime doesn't dlcloses
         # it
         import posix
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ def load():
     _LOADER_ASSEMBLY = _RUNTIME.get_assembly(dll_path)
 
     func = _LOADER_ASSEMBLY["Python.Runtime.Loader.Initialize"]
-    if func(f"{libpython}".encode("utf8")) != 0:
+    if func(f"{libpython or ''}".encode("utf8")) != 0:
         raise RuntimeError("Failed to initialize Python.Runtime.dll")
 
     import atexit
 
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ def candidate_names(suffix=SHLIB_SUFFIX):
         Candidate name libpython.
     """
     LDLIBRARY = sysconfig.get_config_var("LDLIBRARY")
-    if LDLIBRARY:
+    if LDLIBRARY and not LDLIBRARY.endswith(".a"):
         yield LDLIBRARY
 
     LIBRARY = sysconfig.get_config_var("LIBRARY")
-    if LIBRARY:
+    if LIBRARY and not LIBRARY.endswith(".a"):
         yield os.path.splitext(LIBRARY)[0] + suffix
 
     dlprefix = "" if is_windows else "lib"
 
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from pythonnet.find_libpython import find_libpython
+libpython = find_libpython()
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.xfail(libpython is None, reason="Can't find suitable libpython")
+
+
 def _run_test(testname):
     dirname = os.path.split(__file__)[0]
     exename = os.path.join(dirname, 'bin', 'Python.DomainReloadTests.exe')
@@ -12,9 +18,6 @@ def _run_test(testname):
     if platform.system() != 'Windows':
         args = ['mono'] + args
 
-    from pythonnet.find_libpython import find_libpython
-    libpython = find_libpython()
-
     env = os.environ.copy()
     env["PYTHONNET_PYDLL"] = libpython
 
 
@@ -19,8 +19,12 @@ public static int Initialize(IntPtr data, int size)
                 Marshal.Copy(data, buf, 0, size);
                 var dllPath = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(buf);
 
-                PythonDLL = dllPath;
-                // PythonDLL = null;
+		if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(dllPath)) {
+                    PythonDLL = dllPath;
+		}
+		else {
+		    PythonDLL = null;
+		}
 
                 gs = PyGILState_Ensure();