diff --git a/getdeps b/getdeps
index b73aae6..a0420a0 100755
--- a/getdeps
+++ b/getdeps
@@ -81,9 +81,17 @@ getdep()
         fi
     else
         dst="deps"
+        local libname="$(cat "$dep/library" 2>/dev/null)"
+        if test -z "$libname"; then libname="$depname"; fi
+        if test -e "$LIBDIR/lib$libname.so" || test -e "$LIBDIR/lib$libname.a"; then
+            echo :: $depname found in system, skipping
+            return
+        fi
     fi
-    echo "getting $depname..."
+
     if ! test -e "deps"; then run mkdir "deps"; fi
+    echo ":: Getting $depname..."
+
     if test -e "$dst/$depname"; then
         warn "cannot clone: '$dst/$depname' already exists"
     else
@@ -121,6 +129,7 @@ loaddeps
 
 if test $# -eq 0; then usage 0; fi
 
+if test -z "$LIBDIR"; then LIBDIR=/lib; fi
 isdep=0
 dryrun=0
 for arg ; do