--- a/binding.gyp
+++ b/binding.gyp
@@ -13,8 +13,26 @@
         'src/xml_syntax_error.cc',
         'src/xml_xpath_context.cc',
       ],
-      'dependencies': [
-        './vendor/libxml/libxml.gyp:libxml'
+      'conditions': [
+        ['OS=="win"', {
+          # no Windows support yet...
+        }, {
+          'libraries': [
+            '<!@(xml2-config --libs)'
+          ],
+        }],
+        ['OS=="mac"', {
+          # cflags on OS X are stupid and have to be defined like this
+          'xcode_settings': {
+            'OTHER_CFLAGS': [
+              '<!@(xml2-config --cflags)'
+            ]
+          }
+        }, {
+          'cflags': [
+            '<!@(xml2-config --cflags)'
+          ],
+        }]
       ]
     }
   ]