diff --git a/libpng.pc.in b/libpng.pc.in
index 9708e9af2..de127d4f8 100644
--- a/libpng.pc.in
+++ b/libpng.pc.in
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ includedir=@includedir@/libpng@PNGLIB_MAJOR@@PNGLIB_MINOR@
 Name: libpng
 Description: Loads and saves PNG files
 Version: @PNGLIB_VERSION@
-Requires: zlib
+Requires.private: zlib
 Libs: -L${libdir} -lpng@PNGLIB_MAJOR@@PNGLIB_MINOR@
 Libs.private: @LIBS@
 Cflags: -I${includedir}