diff --git a/cli/main.c b/cli/main.c
index 7b1ea84..563ec8f 100644
--- a/cli/main.c
+++ b/cli/main.c
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if ((want_flags & PKG_IGNORE_CONFLICTS) == PKG_IGNORE_CONFLICTS || getenv("PKG_CONFIG_IGNORE_CONFLICTS") != NULL)
 		want_client_flags |= PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_SKIP_CONFLICTS;
 
-	if ((want_flags & PKG_STATIC) == PKG_STATIC)
+	if ((want_flags & PKG_STATIC) == PKG_STATIC || personality->want_default_static)
 		want_client_flags |= (PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_SEARCH_PRIVATE | PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_MERGE_PRIVATE_FRAGMENTS);
 
 	if ((want_flags & PKG_SHARED) == PKG_SHARED)
diff --git a/libpkgconf/libpkgconf.h b/libpkgconf/libpkgconf.h
index d139c50..2c0a561 100644
--- a/libpkgconf/libpkgconf.h
+++ b/libpkgconf/libpkgconf.h
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ struct pkgconf_cross_personality_ {
 	pkgconf_list_t filter_includedirs;
 
 	char *sysroot_dir;
+
+	bool want_default_static;
 };
 
 /* client.c */
diff --git a/libpkgconf/personality.c b/libpkgconf/personality.c
index f3c56f4..f5ca367 100644
--- a/libpkgconf/personality.c
+++ b/libpkgconf/personality.c
@@ -119,6 +119,16 @@ typedef struct {
 	const ptrdiff_t offset;
 } personality_keyword_pair_t;
 
+static void
+personality_bool_func(pkgconf_cross_personality_t *p, const char *keyword, const size_t lineno, const ptrdiff_t offset, char *value)
+{
+	(void) keyword;
+	(void) lineno;
+
+	bool *dest = (bool *)((char *) p + offset);
+	*dest = strcasecmp(value, "true") || strcasecmp(value, "yes") || *value == '1';
+}
+
 static void
 personality_copy_func(pkgconf_cross_personality_t *p, const char *keyword, const size_t lineno, const ptrdiff_t offset, char *value)
 {
@@ -146,6 +156,7 @@ static const personality_keyword_pair_t personality_keyword_pairs[] = {
 	{"SystemIncludePaths", personality_fragment_func, offsetof(pkgconf_cross_personality_t, filter_includedirs)},
 	{"SystemLibraryPaths", personality_fragment_func, offsetof(pkgconf_cross_personality_t, filter_libdirs)},
 	{"Triplet", personality_copy_func, offsetof(pkgconf_cross_personality_t, name)},
+	{"WantDefaultStatic", personality_bool_func, offsetof(pkgconf_cross_personality_t, want_default_static)},
 };
 
 static int
diff --git a/man/pkgconf-personality.5 b/man/pkgconf-personality.5
index ea7ad59..7941d9e 100644
--- a/man/pkgconf-personality.5
+++ b/man/pkgconf-personality.5
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ The input text must be in a format that is suitable for passing to a POSIX
 shell without any shell expansions after variable substitution has been done.
 Elements are delimited with a colon.
 .\"
+.It Boolean
+The property will be set to true if the value is one of: true, yes or 1.
+Otherwise it will be set to false.
+.\"
 .El
 .Ss PROPERTY KEYWORDS
 .Bl -tag -width indent
@@ -72,6 +76,9 @@ include files.
 A list of directories that are included by default in the search path for
 libraries.
 (mandatory; fragment list)
+.It WantDefaultStatic
+If true, pkgconf will default to operating in static linking mode.
+(optional; boolean; default is false)
 .\"
 .El
 .Sh EXAMPLES