diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index bac9524a3..fbd13771a 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "shell-a11y.h"
 #include "shell-global.h"
 #include "shell-global-private.h"
+#include "shell-js.h"
 #include "shell-perf-log.h"
 #include "st.h"
 
@@ -342,3 +343,16 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
   return ecode;
 }
+
+/* HACK:
+   Add a dummy function that calls into libgnome-shell-js.so to ensure it's
+   linked to /usr/bin/gnome-shell even when linking with --as-needed.
+   This function is never actually called.
+   https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=670477
+*/
+
+void
+_shell_link_to_shell_js (void)
+{
+  shell_js_add_extension_importer (NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+}