diff --git a/R-package/src/Makevars.in b/R-package/src/Makevars.in
index 8d39281721ca..4663c1480281 100644
--- a/R-package/src/Makevars.in
+++ b/R-package/src/Makevars.in
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ LGB_CPPFLAGS = \
     -DUSE_SOCKET \
     -DLGB_R_BUILD
 
-CPICFLAGS = -fPIC
-
 PKG_CPPFLAGS = \
     -I$(PKGROOT)/include \
     $(LGB_CPPFLAGS)
diff --git a/R-package/src/Makevars.win.in b/R-package/src/Makevars.win.in
index 3746d8efe7eb..340afad3002a 100644
--- a/R-package/src/Makevars.win.in
+++ b/R-package/src/Makevars.win.in
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ LGB_CPPFLAGS = \
     -DUSE_SOCKET \
     -DLGB_R_BUILD
 
-CPICFLAGS = -fPIC
-
 PKG_CPPFLAGS = \
     -I$(PKGROOT)/include \
     $(LGB_CPPFLAGS)