--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+PKGCONFIG ?= pkg-config
+LIBS += $(shell $(PKGCONFIG) --libs ncurses) -lpthread
 all:
-	g++ -O3 -Wall -o clockywock clockywock.cpp -lncurses -lpthread
+	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) -o clockywock clockywock.cpp $(LIBS)
 
 # install is done completely lazily
 install: