diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index a8d681f6a22..b4e5b17f5e6 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ SUBDIRS = include #src
 AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS  = -I m4
 AM_CFLAGS        = $(libmesh_CFLAGS)
+AM_LDFLAGS       = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
 
 # AM_CPPFLAGS are method-independent cppflags that
 # we use when compiling libmesh proper, or its utility
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 28f14415d45..6d7a93ad94a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -125,7 +125,10 @@ LIBMESH_SET_METHODS
 #-----------------------------------------------------
 LT_INIT([disable-static])
 
-
+#-----------------------------------------------------
+# See if the user requested --enable-all-static
+#-----------------------------------------------------
+AX_ALL_STATIC
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 # Release versioning - after we find the C++ compiler
diff --git a/contrib/Make.common b/contrib/Make.common
index d3b2528596b..e259c92723a 100644
--- a/contrib/Make.common
+++ b/contrib/Make.common
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
 AM_CPPFLAGS  = $(pkg_cppflags) # any defined package-specific include paths
 AM_CFLAGS    = 
 AM_CXXFLAGS  = 
+AM_LDFLAGS   = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
 
 ######################################################################
 #
diff --git a/contrib/Makefile.am b/contrib/Makefile.am
index d53c95c1d1a..ca95e368e86 100644
--- a/contrib/Makefile.am
+++ b/contrib/Makefile.am
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ devel_libs =
 prof_libs  =
 oprof_libs =
 
+# Doesn't seem to be used directly in this Makefile; add
+# it in case someone includes this Makefile?
+AM_LDFLAGS   = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
+
 if LIBMESH_INSTALL_INTERNAL_BOOST
    SUBDIRS += boost/include
 endif
diff --git a/examples/Make.common b/examples/Make.common
index 08ec6868aa4..7185c8fc9d4 100644
--- a/examples/Make.common
+++ b/examples/Make.common
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
 AM_CPPFLAGS  = $(libmesh_optional_INCLUDES) -I$(top_builddir)/include
 AM_CFLAGS    = $(libmesh_CFLAGS)
 AM_CXXFLAGS  = $(libmesh_CXXFLAGS)
+AM_LDFLAGS   = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
 LIBS         = $(libmesh_optional_LIBS)
 
 examples_source_path  = $(top_srcdir)/examples
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index 028ac63e2ed..6aadcf7617b 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS  = $(libmesh_CPPFLAGS)
 AM_CFLAGS    = $(libmesh_CFLAGS)
 AM_CXXFLAGS  = $(libmesh_CXXFLAGS)
 AM_CPPFLAGS += $(libmesh_optional_INCLUDES) -I$(top_builddir)/include
+AM_LDFLAGS   = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
 LIBS         = $(libmesh_optional_LIBS)
 
 examples_source_path  = $(top_srcdir)/examples
diff --git a/m4/all_static.m4 b/m4/all_static.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..669733b74de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/all_static.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Configure option to pass -all-static to libtool's link mode.  So
+# far, this was only required on the BG/Q machine Mira to get static
+# linking to work.  Off by default.  Other than LDFLAGS, AM_LDFLAGS
+# seems to be the only flag that makes it into the Makefile.in files
+# after the --mode=link arguments to libtool.
+AC_DEFUN([AX_ALL_STATIC],
+[
+  AC_ARG_ENABLE(all-static,
+                [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-all-static],[Pass -all-static to libtool's link mode])],
+                enableallstatic=$enableval,
+                enableallstatic=no)
+
+  if (test $enableallstatic = yes); then
+    if (test "x$libmesh_LDFLAGS" != x) ; then
+      # Append to whatever the user has for libmesh_LDFLAGS in their environment
+      libmesh_LDFLAGS="$libmesh_LDFLAGS -all-static"
+    else
+      # Set libmesh_LDFLAGS to -all-static
+      libmesh_LDFLAGS=-all-static
+    fi
+
+    # Substitute into Makefiles where relevant.
+    AC_SUBST(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
+  fi
+])
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index ee69fbcb66b..444e17f4d76 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ AM_CFLAGS    = $(libmesh_CFLAGS)
 AM_CPPFLAGS  = $(libmesh_optional_INCLUDES) -I$(top_builddir)/include \
                $(libmesh_contrib_INCLUDES) $(CPPUNIT_CFLAGS) \
 	       -DLIBMESH_IS_UNIT_TESTING
+AM_LDFLAGS   = $(libmesh_LDFLAGS)
 LIBS         = $(libmesh_optional_LIBS) $(CPPUNIT_LIBS)
 
 unit_tests_sources = \