diff --git a/wx/lib/wxcairo/wx_pycairo.py b/wx/lib/wxcairo/wx_pycairo.py
index 7cfe3071..24d1120f 100644
--- a/wx/lib/wxcairo/wx_pycairo.py
+++ b/wx/lib/wxcairo/wx_pycairo.py
@@ -197,7 +197,12 @@ def _findCairoLib():
 
 # For other DLLs we'll just use a dictionary to track them, as there
 # probably isn't any need to use them outside of this module.
-_dlls = dict()
+_dlls = {
+    "gdk": ctypes.CDLL("@libgdk@"),
+    "pangocairo": ctypes.CDLL("@libpangocairo@"),
+    "cairoLib": ctypes.CDLL("@libcairo@"),
+    "appsvc": ctypes.CDLL(None),
+}
 
 def _findHelper(names, key, msg):
     dll = _dlls.get(key, None)