diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ab761c7183..06e3a7b2a8 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -5305,6 +5305,7 @@ case $target_os in
         ;;
     openbsd|bitrig)
         disable symver
+        enable section_data_rel_ro
         striptype=""
         SHFLAGS='-shared'
         SLIB_INSTALL_NAME='$(SLIBNAME).$(LIBMAJOR).$(LIBMINOR)'