diff --git a/src/Pure/System/executable.scala b/src/Pure/System/executable.scala
--- a/src/Pure/System/executable.scala
+++ b/src/Pure/System/executable.scala
@@ -1,69 +1,78 @@
 /*  Title:      Pure/System/executable.scala
     Author:     Makarius
 
 Support for platform-specific executables.
 */
 
 package isabelle
 
 
 object Executable
 {
-  def libraries_closure(exe_path0: Path,
+  def libraries_closure(path: Path,
     mingw: MinGW = MinGW.none,
-    filter: String => Boolean = _ => true): List[String] =
+    filter: String => Boolean = _ => true,
+    patchelf: Boolean = false): List[String] =
   {
-    val exe_path = exe_path0.expand
+    val exe_path = path.expand
     val exe_dir = exe_path.dir
     val exe = exe_path.base
 
     val ldd_lines =
     {
       val ldd = if (Platform.is_macos) "otool -L" else "ldd"
       val script = mingw.bash_script(ldd + " " + File.bash_path(exe))
       Library.split_lines(Isabelle_System.bash(script, cwd = exe_dir.file).check.out)
     }
 
     def lib_name(lib: String): String =
       Library.take_prefix[Char](_ != '.',
         Library.take_suffix[Char](_ != '/', lib.toList)._2)._1.mkString
 
     val libs =
       if (Platform.is_macos) {
         val Pattern = """^\s*(/.+)\s+\(.*\)$""".r
         for {
           Pattern(lib) <- ldd_lines
           if !lib.startsWith("@executable_path/") && filter(lib_name(lib))
         } yield lib
       }
       else {
         val Pattern = """^.*=>\s*(/.+)\s+\(.*\)$""".r
         val prefix =
           mingw.root match {
             case None => ""
             case Some(path) => path.absolute.implode
           }
         for { Pattern(lib) <- ldd_lines if filter(lib_name(lib)) }
           yield prefix + lib
       }
 
     if (libs.nonEmpty) {
       libs.foreach(lib => File.copy(Path.explode(lib), exe_dir))
 
       if (Platform.is_linux) {
-        // requires "LDFLAGS=-Wl,-rpath,_DUMMY_"
-        Isabelle_System.bash("chrpath -r '$ORIGIN' " + File.bash_path(exe_path)).check
+        if (patchelf) {
+          // requires e.g. Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
+          Isabelle_System.require_command("patchelf")
+          Isabelle_System.bash("patchelf --force-rpath --set-rpath '$ORIGIN' " + File.bash_path(exe_path)).check
+        }
+        else {
+          // requires e.g. LDFLAGS=-Wl,-rpath,_DUMMY_
+          Isabelle_System.require_command("chrpath")
+          Isabelle_System.bash("chrpath -r '$ORIGIN' " + File.bash_path(exe_path)).check
+        }
       }
       else if (Platform.is_macos) {
         val script =
           ("install_name_tool" ::
             libs.map(file => "-change " + Bash.string(file) + " " +
               Bash.string("@executable_path/" + Path.explode(file).file_name) + " " +
               File.bash_path(exe))).mkString(" ")
         Isabelle_System.bash(script, cwd = exe_dir.file).check
       }
     }
 
     libs
   }
 }