diff --git a/icu4c/source/config/mh-mingw b/icu4c/source/config/mh-mingw
index 762423a4d48..b8d2ee0589d 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/config/mh-mingw
+++ b/icu4c/source/config/mh-mingw
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ SO_TARGET_VERSION_SUFFIX =
 endif
 
 # Static library prefix and file extension
-LIBSICU = lib$(LIBPREFIX)$(STATIC_PREFIX)$(ICUPREFIX)
+LIBSICU = $(LIBPREFIX)$(STATIC_PREFIX)$(ICUPREFIX)
 A = a
 
 ## An import library is needed for z/OS and MSVC
 IMPORT_LIB_EXT = .dll.a
 
-LIBPREFIX=
+LIBPREFIX=lib
 
 # Change the stubnames so that poorly working FAT disks and installation programs can work.
 # This is also for backwards compatibility.