diff --git a/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile b/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
index 2f156736d..03bf1edb1 100644
--- a/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
+++ b/examples/bbdev_app/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/bond/Makefile b/examples/bond/Makefile
index 8700b589f..313a5389e 100644
--- a/examples/bond/Makefile
+++ b/examples/bond/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/cmdline/Makefile b/examples/cmdline/Makefile
index 09da84ba0..0b6a3c6dd 100644
--- a/examples/cmdline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/cmdline/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/distributor/Makefile b/examples/distributor/Makefile
index d7615f9a3..9630fea3f 100644
--- a/examples/distributor/Makefile
+++ b/examples/distributor/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/ethtool/ethtool-app/Makefile b/examples/ethtool/ethtool-app/Makefile
index 93ef5c27c..685afbdf3 100644
--- a/examples/ethtool/ethtool-app/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ethtool/ethtool-app/Makefile
@@ -31,6 +31,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED += $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC += $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile b/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
index f5072a2b0..5cf88ca41 100644
--- a/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/eventdev_pipeline/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/fips_validation/Makefile b/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
index 8f82a4c6c..1cc33450c 100644
--- a/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
+++ b/examples/fips_validation/Makefile
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/flow_classify/Makefile b/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
index 4c215daf1..1caa93a9b 100644
--- a/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
+++ b/examples/flow_classify/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile b/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
index 9bc917934..b0cdeab3a 100644
--- a/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
+++ b/examples/flow_filtering/Makefile
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/helloworld/Makefile b/examples/helloworld/Makefile
index 436569f5a..1b4dfcdde 100644
--- a/examples/helloworld/Makefile
+++ b/examples/helloworld/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/ioat/Makefile b/examples/ioat/Makefile
index c13ad8d8a..c82ba1758 100644
--- a/examples/ioat/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ioat/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile b/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
index f6baf635b..b5b546e20 100644
--- a/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_fragmentation/Makefile
@@ -24,10 +24,19 @@ PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk 2>/dev/null)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
-CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile b/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
index 4b391973c..96f492a5e 100644
--- a/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_pipeline/Makefile
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -I. -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API -D_GNU_SOURCE
 
 OBJS := $(patsubst %.c,build/%.o,$(SRCS-y))
diff --git a/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile b/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
index 740f4721d..f9d0e5a6c 100644
--- a/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ip_reassembly/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
index 7670cc368..55a7ac6d8 100644
--- a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 CFLAGS += -Wno-address-of-packed-member
 
diff --git a/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile b/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
index 7ea44e6f6..614b17705 100644
--- a/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ipv4_multicast/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/kni/Makefile b/examples/kni/Makefile
index bbf3bcae1..f87e93dcf 100644
--- a/examples/kni/Makefile
+++ b/examples/kni/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
index 9ba113561..85066612b 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-cat/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 LDFLAGS += -lpqos
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
index 7731eccd0..8d44e95ed 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-crypto/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 CONFIG_DEFINES = $(shell $(CC) $(CFLAGS) -dM -E - < /dev/null)
 ifneq ($(findstring RTE_CRYPTO_SCHEDULER,$(CONFIG_DEFINES)),)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
index 384224b24..1570b1f83 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-event/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
index fcb60b2a3..1a8842c64 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-jobstats/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
index 09a891149..bcc075f0d 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/ka-agent/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/ka-agent/Makefile
index 8b329a78b..ef4950f23 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/ka-agent/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/ka-agent/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
index b180deb86..44bc9ef4d 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
index 3420ea3a9..49ad69811 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-acl/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-graph/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd-graph/Makefile
index 6e3d0bca0..9622e2358 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-graph/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-graph/Makefile
@@ -22,10 +22,20 @@ static: build/$(APP)-static
 PKGCONF ?= pkg-config
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk 2>/dev/null)
-CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk) -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
+CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
index d69854c9f..50edc34e6 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-power/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/Makefile b/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
index 7e70bbd82..ff3930c42 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/Makefile
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile b/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
index fa608c56a..583a84736 100644
--- a/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
+++ b/examples/link_status_interrupt/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_client/Makefile b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_client/Makefile
index bc00a1c87..2c389f35b 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_client/Makefile
+++ b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_client/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_server/Makefile b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_server/Makefile
index d066524b3..bc04ab733 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_server/Makefile
+++ b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/mp_server/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/hotplug_mp/Makefile b/examples/multi_process/hotplug_mp/Makefile
index 3122449d6..75ae8eb9a 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/hotplug_mp/Makefile
+++ b/examples/multi_process/hotplug_mp/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/simple_mp/Makefile b/examples/multi_process/simple_mp/Makefile
index d03597c4c..675e8c3f9 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/simple_mp/Makefile
+++ b/examples/multi_process/simple_mp/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/Makefile b/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/Makefile
index 45b7214cb..5a671e54a 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/Makefile
+++ b/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/ntb/Makefile b/examples/ntb/Makefile
index d35dabc47..8e1f52f17 100644
--- a/examples/ntb/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ntb/Makefile
@@ -26,10 +26,19 @@ LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
 PC_FILE := $(shell $(PKGCONF) --path libdpdk 2>/dev/null)
 CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
-CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile b/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
index 09abda91e..dcf583ec0 100644
--- a/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
+++ b/examples/packet_ordering/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/Makefile b/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/Makefile
index ca1a5d087..4f518358d 100644
--- a/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/Makefile
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/Makefile
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ SRCS-y := main.c
 
 include ../common/common.mk
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 # Build using pkg-config variables if possible
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/pthread_shim/Makefile b/examples/performance-thread/pthread_shim/Makefile
index 6b19ff63f..5aa401dc4 100644
--- a/examples/performance-thread/pthread_shim/Makefile
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/pthread_shim/Makefile
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ SRCS-y := main.c pthread_shim.c
 
 include ../common/common.mk
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 CFLAGS += -D_GNU_SOURCE
 LDFLAGS += "-Wl,--copy-dt-needed-entries"
diff --git a/examples/pipeline/Makefile b/examples/pipeline/Makefile
index d0a1f02e1..fcba51fd4 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline/Makefile
+++ b/examples/pipeline/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -I. -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API -D_GNU_SOURCE
 
 OBJS := $(patsubst %.c,build/%.o,$(SRCS-y))
diff --git a/examples/ptpclient/Makefile b/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
index 9f56a5e7a..f0d38c5c4 100644
--- a/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ptpclient/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/qos_meter/Makefile b/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
index 7a5381829..1772c75a1 100644
--- a/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
+++ b/examples/qos_meter/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/qos_sched/Makefile b/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
index f42406fe1..8187542eb 100644
--- a/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
+++ b/examples/qos_sched/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile b/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
index a618cdf75..4296b19f6 100644
--- a/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
+++ b/examples/rxtx_callbacks/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/server_node_efd/node/Makefile b/examples/server_node_efd/node/Makefile
index 2120de539..56550e6fe 100644
--- a/examples/server_node_efd/node/Makefile
+++ b/examples/server_node_efd/node/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/server_node_efd/server/Makefile b/examples/server_node_efd/server/Makefile
index 6b5878d8c..50e18e150 100644
--- a/examples/server_node_efd/server/Makefile
+++ b/examples/server_node_efd/server/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/service_cores/Makefile b/examples/service_cores/Makefile
index 754333c87..df0284bd0 100644
--- a/examples/service_cores/Makefile
+++ b/examples/service_cores/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/skeleton/Makefile b/examples/skeleton/Makefile
index 4fa97cb97..bbd2dc181 100644
--- a/examples/skeleton/Makefile
+++ b/examples/skeleton/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/timer/Makefile b/examples/timer/Makefile
index 70b1af9f4..4c0a0f62f 100644
--- a/examples/timer/Makefile
+++ b/examples/timer/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/vdpa/Makefile b/examples/vdpa/Makefile
index c4b2184ea..470ca57df 100644
--- a/examples/vdpa/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vdpa/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/vhost/Makefile b/examples/vhost/Makefile
index 8c969caaa..145b3f79a 100644
--- a/examples/vhost/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile b/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
index 792591386..2fe199454 100644
--- a/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost_blk/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile b/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
index 27abd9199..ce6f04624 100644
--- a/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vhost_crypto/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(SRCS-y) -o $@ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS_SHARED)
 
diff --git a/examples/vm_power_manager/Makefile b/examples/vm_power_manager/Makefile
index 8ac1180b2..2fff8dadd 100644
--- a/examples/vm_power_manager/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vm_power_manager/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 ifneq ($(shell $(PKGCONF) --atleast-version=0.9.3 libvirt; echo $$?), 0)
diff --git a/examples/vm_power_manager/guest_cli/Makefile b/examples/vm_power_manager/guest_cli/Makefile
index 1ee1ca101..e9dff4753 100644
--- a/examples/vm_power_manager/guest_cli/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vm_power_manager/guest_cli/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/vmdq/Makefile b/examples/vmdq/Makefile
index 749ed53c6..8edda6cd6 100644
--- a/examples/vmdq/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vmdq/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
diff --git a/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile b/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
index 1dd42105d..b5d2efa4a 100644
--- a/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
+++ b/examples/vmdq_dcb/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ CFLAGS += -O3 $(shell $(PKGCONF) --cflags libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_SHARED = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --libs libdpdk)
 LDFLAGS_STATIC = $(shell $(PKGCONF) --static --libs libdpdk)
 
+ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),static)
+# check for broken pkg-config
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(LDFLAGS_STATIC) | grep 'whole-archive.*l:lib.*no-whole-archive'),)
+$(warning "pkg-config output list does not contain drivers between 'whole-archive'/'no-whole-archive' flags.")
+$(error "Cannot generate statically-linked binaries with this version of pkg-config")
+endif
+endif
+
 CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 build/$(APP)-shared: $(SRCS-y) Makefile $(PC_FILE) | build
