diff --git a/src/tools/gcc.lua b/src/tools/gcc.lua
index 48087940..00c63ddd 100644
--- a/src/tools/gcc.lua
+++ b/src/tools/gcc.lua
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
 			elseif path.isobjectfile(link) then
 				table.insert(result, link)
 			else
-				table.insert(result, "-l" .. path.getbasename(link))
+				table.insert(result, "-l" .. path.getname(link))
 			end
 		end
 
diff --git a/tests/actions/make/cpp/test_make_linking.lua b/tests/actions/make/cpp/test_make_linking.lua
index 4600a871..9349c182 100644
--- a/tests/actions/make/cpp/test_make_linking.lua
+++ b/tests/actions/make/cpp/test_make_linking.lua
@@ -138,4 +138,22 @@
   ALL_LDFLAGS += $(LDFLAGS) -L../libs -s
   LIBS += -lSomeLib
 	]]
+end
+
+
+
+--
+-- When referencing an external library with a period in the
+-- file name make sure it appears correctly in  the LIBS
+-- directive. Currently the period and everything after it
+-- is stripped
+--
+
+ function suite.onExternalLibraryWithPath()
+ 	location "MyProject"
+	links { "libs/SomeLib-1.1" }
+	prepare { "libs", }
+	test.capture [[
+  LIBS += -lSomeLib-1.1
+	]]
  end