diff --git a/python/tox.ini b/python/tox.ini
index cf8d54016..1600db21f 100644
--- a/python/tox.ini
+++ b/python/tox.ini
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ setenv =
 commands =
     python setup.py -q build_py
     python: python setup.py -q build
-    cpp: python setup.py -q build --cpp_implementation --warnings_as_errors
+    cpp: python setup.py -q build --cpp_implementation --warnings_as_errors --compile_static_extension
     python: python setup.py -q test -q
     cpp: python setup.py -q test -q --cpp_implementation
     python: python setup.py -q test_conformance
diff --git a/tests.sh b/tests.sh
index a497f1d2c..fb7044f33 100755
--- a/tests.sh
+++ b/tests.sh
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ internal_build_cpp() {
   fi
 
   ./autogen.sh
-  ./configure
+  ./configure CXXFLAGS="-fPIC"  # -fPIC is needed for python cpp test.
+                                # See python/setup.py for more details
   make -j2
 }