diff --git a/expat.spec b/expat.spec
index 265e526..b8f337c 100644
--- a/expat.spec
+++ b/expat.spec
@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@ Requires: expat = %{version}-%{release}
 The expat-devel package contains the libraries, include files and documentation
 to develop XML applications with expat.
 
+%package static
+Summary: expat XML parser static library
+Group: Development/Libraries
+Requires: expat-devel%{?_isa} = %{version}-%{release}
+
+%description static
+The expat-static package contains the static version of the expat library.
+Install it if you need to link statically with expat.
+
 %prep
 %setup -q
 
@@ -33,7 +42,7 @@ to develop XML applications with expat.
 rm -rf autom4te*.cache
 libtoolize --copy --force --automake && aclocal && autoheader && autoconf
 export CFLAGS="$RPM_OPT_FLAGS -fPIC"
-%configure --disable-static
+%configure
 make %{?_smp_mflags}
 
 %install
@@ -69,7 +78,14 @@ rm -rf ${RPM_BUILD_ROOT}
 %{_libdir}/pkgconfig/*.pc
 %{_includedir}/*.h
 
+%files static
+%defattr(-,root,root)
+%{_libdir}/lib*.a
+
 %changelog
+* Fri Apr 13 2012 Joe Orton <jorton@redhat.com> - 2.1.0-2
+- add -static subpackage (#722647)
+
 * Fri Mar 30 2012 Joe Orton <jorton@redhat.com> - 2.1.0-1
 - ship .pc file, move library back to libdir (#808399)