diff --git i/magic/loader.py w/magic/loader.py
index 931f161..b8096d1 100644
--- i/magic/loader.py
+++ w/magic/loader.py
@@ -35,16 +35,12 @@ def _lib_candidates():
 
 
 def load_lib():
+  lib = '@libmagic@'
 
-  for lib in _lib_candidates():
-    # find_library returns None when lib not found
-    if lib is None:
-      continue
-    try:
-      return ctypes.CDLL(lib)
-    except OSError:
-      pass
-  else:
-    # It is better to raise an ImportError since we are importing magic module
-    raise ImportError('failed to find libmagic.  Check your installation')
+  try:
+    return ctypes.CDLL(lib)
+  except OSError:
+    pass
 
+  # It is better to raise an ImportError since we are importing magic module
+  raise ImportError('failed to find libmagic.  Check your installation')