diff --git i/wscript w/wscript
index 86eb3954..bdd29dc3 100644
--- i/wscript
+++ w/wscript
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ def options(opt):
     db = opt.add_auto_option(
             'db',
             help='Use Berkeley DB (metadata)')
-    db.check(header_name='db.h')
-    db.check(lib='db')
+    db.check(header_name='db5.3/db.h')
+    db.check(lib='db-5.3')
 
     # dbus options
     opt.recurse('dbus')
