diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/dev.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/dev.py
index ec7015103..09f55b705 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/dev.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/dev.py
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ class ZlibSystemDependency(SystemDependency):
             else:
                 libs = ['z']
             for lib in libs:
-                l = self.clib_compiler.find_library(lib, environment, [])
+                l = self.clib_compiler.find_library(lib, environment, [], self.libtype)
                 h = self.clib_compiler.has_header('zlib.h', '', environment, dependencies=[self])
                 if l and h[0]:
                     self.is_found = True