diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index df92bc7c..c7775ae5 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -639,20 +639,14 @@ class App(Base):
                             ret.append(m)
         return ret
 
-    def get_libname(self, projects) -> str:
-        vals = self.get_project_refs(
-            projects,
-            ['build'],
-            'libname',
-            scope = Scope.One,
-            add_self = False,
-            names_only = True,
-        )
-        if not vals:
-            return ' '.join(projects)
-        if 'none' in vals:
-            vals.remove('none')
-        return ' '.join(reversed(vals))
+    def get_libname(self, spec: str) -> str | None:
+        project_name = self.strip_module_from_spec(spec)
+        ret = self.get_value(project_name, 'build', 'libname')
+        if ret == 'none':
+            return None
+        if ret is None:
+            return project_name
+        return ret
 
     def is_excluded_from_build(self, project: str) -> str | None:
         log(DEBUG, 'checking if project ' + project + ' is excluded from build')
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py
index 7d44ffac..66f7f713 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ class CmdLdflags(Cmd):  # export
         for m in deps:
             if m in exclude:
                 continue
-            libname = self.app.get_libname([m])
-            if not len(libname):
+            libname = self.app.get_libname(m)
+            if libname is None:
                 continue
             path = self.app.find_dir(m, ['/lib'])
             if not path:
@@ -69,9 +69,10 @@ class CmdLdflags(Cmd):  # export
         for m in reversed(deps):
             if m in args.exclude:
                 continue
-            libname = self.app.get_libname([m])
-            if len(libname):
-                out.append('-l' + libname)
+            libname = self.app.get_libname(m)
+            if libname is None:
+                continue
+            out.append('-l' + libname)
         if not out:
             return
         ldpathflags = self.__get_ldpathflags(args.module, args.exclude)