diff --git a/vips.c b/vips.c
index 4780d9a4..6d27693e 100644
--- a/vips.c
+++ b/vips.c
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #include "vips.h"
 #include <string.h>
-#include <math.h>
 
 #define VIPS_SUPPORT_ARRAY_HEADERS \
   (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION > 8 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION == 8 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 9))
@@ -539,7 +538,10 @@ vips_pngsave_go(VipsImage *in, void **buf, size_t *len, int interlace, int quant
       NULL
     );
 
-  int bitdepth = ceil(log2(colors));
+  int bitdepth = 1;
+  if (colors > 16) bitdepth = 8;
+  else if (colors > 4) bitdepth = 4;
+  else if (colors > 2) bitdepth = 2;
 
   return vips_pngsave_buffer(
     in, buf, len,
diff --git a/vips.go b/vips.go
index acc3eda1..b814834d 100644
--- a/vips.go
+++ b/vips.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 /*
 #cgo pkg-config: vips
-#cgo LDFLAGS: -s -w -lm
+#cgo LDFLAGS: -s -w
 #cgo CFLAGS: -O3
 #include "vips.h"
 */