diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 471ce0db..8dfc2d05 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ SECOND_LATEST_TAG := $(shell git tag | sort -r | head -2 | tail -1)
 RELEASE_DIR := "SQLCipher for Android ${LATEST_TAG}"
 CHANGE_LOG_HEADER := "Changes included in the ${LATEST_TAG} release of SQLCipher for Android:"
 README := ${RELEASE_DIR}/README
+MAKE_JOBS ?= 16
 
 init:
 	git submodule update --init
@@ -20,13 +21,11 @@ all: build-external build-jni build-java copy-libs
 
 build-external:
 	cd ${EXTERNAL_DIR} && \
-	make -f Android.mk build-local-hack && \
-	ndk-build && \
-	make -f Android.mk copy-libs-hack
+	make -f Android.mk build-local-hack
 
 build-jni:
-	cd ${JNI_DIR} && \
-	ndk-build
+	cd ${CURDIR} && \
+	ndk-build -j${MAKE_JOBS}
 
 build-java:
 	ant release && \
@@ -48,33 +47,12 @@ release:
 clean:
 	-rm SQLCipher\ for\ Android\*.zip
 	ant clean
-	cd ${EXTERNAL_DIR} && ndk-build clean
+	cd ${CURDIR} && ndk-build clean
 	-cd ${SQLCIPHER_DIR} && make clean
-	cd ${JNI_DIR} && ndk-build clean
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi/libsqlcipher_android.so
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi/libdatabase_sqlcipher.so
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi/libstlport_shared.so
 	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/sqlcipher.jar
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86/libsqlcipher_android.so
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86/libdatabase_sqlcipher.so
-	-rm ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86/libstlport_shared.so
 
 copy-libs:
-	mkdir -p ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi
-	cp ${EXTERNAL_DIR}/libs/armeabi/libsqlcipher_android.so \
-		 ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi  && \
-	cp ${JNI_DIR}/libs/armeabi/libdatabase_sqlcipher.so \
-		${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi && \
-	cp ${CURDIR}/bin/classes/sqlcipher.jar ${LIBRARY_ROOT} && \
-	cp ${EXTERNAL_DIR}/libs/armeabi/libstlport_shared.so \
-		 ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/armeabi
-	mkdir -p ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86
-	cp ${EXTERNAL_DIR}/libs/x86/libsqlcipher_android.so \
-		 ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86  && \
-	cp ${JNI_DIR}/libs/x86/libdatabase_sqlcipher.so \
-		${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86 && \
-	cp ${EXTERNAL_DIR}/libs/x86/libstlport_shared.so \
-		 ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/x86
+	cp ${CURDIR}/bin/classes/sqlcipher.jar ${LIBRARY_ROOT}
 
 copy-libs-dist:
 	cp ${LIBRARY_ROOT}/*.jar dist/SQLCipherForAndroid-SDK/libs/ && \
diff --git a/external/Android.mk b/external/Android.mk
index 36442ca8..e0c03567 100644
--- a/external/Android.mk
+++ b/external/Android.mk
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 # Before building using this do:
 #	make -f Android.mk build-local-hack
 #   ndk-build
-#   ndk-build
-#	make -f Android.mk copy-libs-hack
 
 PROJECT_ROOT_PATH := $(call my-dir)
 LOCAL_PATH := $(PROJECT_ROOT_PATH)
@@ -16,10 +14,8 @@ sqlcipher/sqlite3.c:
 	cd ${CURDIR}/sqlcipher && ./configure
 	make -C sqlcipher sqlite3.c
 
-copy-libs-hack: build-local-hack
-	install -p -m644 libs/armeabi/*.so ../obj/local/armeabi/
-
-project_ldflags:= -Llibs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/ -Landroid-libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
+project_ldflags:= -L$(PROJECT_ROOT_PATH)/libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI) \
+    -L$(PROJECT_ROOT_PATH)/android-libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
 # libsqlite3
@@ -41,8 +37,11 @@ sqlcipher_cflags := -DSQLITE_HAS_CODEC -DHAVE_FDATASYNC=0 -Dfdatasync=fsync
 
 include $(CLEAR_VARS)
 
-LOCAL_CFLAGS += $(android_sqlite_cflags) $(sqlcipher_cflags)
-LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := includes openssl/include sqlcipher
+LOCAL_CFLAGS += $(android_sqlite_cflags) $(sqlcipher_cflags) -fvisibility=hidden
+LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := \
+    $(LOCAL_PATH)/includes \
+    $(LOCAL_PATH)/openssl/include \
+    $(LOCAL_PATH)/sqlcipher
 LOCAL_LDFLAGS += $(project_ldflags)
 LOCAL_LDLIBS += -lcrypto
 LOCAL_MODULE    := libsqlcipher
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ LOCAL_ALLOW_UNDEFINED_SYMBOLS := false
 #LOCAL_REQUIRED_MODULES += libsqlcipher libicui18n libicuuc 
 LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES := libsqlcipher libicui18n libicuuc
 
-LOCAL_CFLAGS += $(android_sqlite_cflags) $(sqlite_cflags) \
+LOCAL_CFLAGS += $(android_sqlite_cflags) $(sqlite_cflags) -fvisibility=hidden \
 		-DOS_PATH_SEPARATOR="'/'" -DHAVE_SYS_UIO_H
 
 LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := \
@@ -86,13 +85,13 @@ LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := \
 	$(LOCAL_PATH)/platform-system-core/include \
 	$(LOCAL_PATH)/platform-frameworks-base/include
 
-LOCAL_LDFLAGS += -L${LOCAL_PATH}/android-libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/ -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
+LOCAL_LDFLAGS += $(project_ldflags)
 LOCAL_LDLIBS := -llog -lutils -lcutils -lcrypto
 LOCAL_MODULE := libsqlcipher_android
 LOCAL_MODULE_FILENAME := libsqlcipher_android
 LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(libsqlite3_android_local_src_files)
 
-include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
+include $(BUILD_STATIC_LIBRARY)
 
 #-------------------------
 # start icu project import
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
 
 #include $(CLEAR_VARS)
 
-ICU_COMMON_PATH := icu4c/common
+ICU_COMMON_PATH := $(LOCAL_PATH)/icu4c/common
 
 # new icu common build begin
 
@@ -209,6 +208,7 @@ icu_c_includes := \
 icu_local_cflags += -D_REENTRANT -DU_COMMON_IMPLEMENTATION -O3 -DHAVE_ANDROID_OS=1 -fvisibility=hidden
 icu_local_cflags += '-DICU_DATA_DIR_PREFIX_ENV_VAR="SQLCIPHER_ICU_PREFIX"'
 icu_local_cflags += '-DICU_DATA_DIR="/icu"'
+icu_local_cflags += -include $(LOCAL_PATH)/VisibilityIcu.h
 icu_local_ldlibs := -lc -lpthread -lm
 
 #
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ include $(CLEAR_VARS)
 LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(icu_src_files)
 LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := $(icu_c_includes)
 LOCAL_CFLAGS := $(icu_local_cflags) -DPIC -fPIC
+LOCAL_EXPORT_CFLAGS := -include $(LOCAL_PATH)/VisibilityIcu.h
 LOCAL_RTTI_FLAG := -frtti
-LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES += libgabi++
 LOCAL_LDLIBS += $(icu_local_ldlibs)
 LOCAL_MODULE_TAGS := optional
 LOCAL_MODULE := libicuuc
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ include $(BUILD_STATIC_LIBRARY)
 #--------------
 include $(CLEAR_VARS)
 LOCAL_PATH := $(PROJECT_ROOT_PATH)
-#ICU_I18N_PATH := $(LOCAL_PATH)/icu4c/i18n
-ICU_I18N_PATH := icu4c/i18n
+ICU_I18N_PATH := $(LOCAL_PATH)/icu4c/i18n
+#ICU_I18N_PATH := icu4c/i18n
 
 # start new icu18n
 
@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := $(c_includes) \
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += -D_REENTRANT -DPIC -DU_I18N_IMPLEMENTATION -fPIC -fvisibility=hidden
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += -O3
 LOCAL_RTTI_FLAG := -frtti
-LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES += libgabi++
 LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES += libicuuc
 LOCAL_LDLIBS += -lc -lpthread -lm
 LOCAL_MODULE_TAGS := optional
diff --git a/external/VisibilityIcu.h b/external/VisibilityIcu.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79ca4ae4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/external/VisibilityIcu.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/* Dirty hack changing ICU visibility to hidden */
+
+#ifndef _VISIBILITY_ICU_H
+#define _VISIBILITY_ICU_H
+
+#include <unicode/platform.h>
+#undef U_EXPORT
+#define U_EXPORT
+
+#endif
diff --git a/jni/Android.mk b/jni/Android.mk
index 25109a1f..b22f39ef 100644
--- a/jni/Android.mk
+++ b/jni/Android.mk
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 LOCAL_PATH:= $(call my-dir)
 
-EXTERNAL_PATH := ../external
+EXTERNAL_PATH := $(LOCAL_PATH)/../external
 
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += -DPACKED="__attribute__ ((packed))"
 
@@ -42,24 +42,18 @@ LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += \
 	$(EXTERNAL_PATH)/platform-frameworks-base/include \
 	$(EXTERNAL_PATH)/icu4c/common \
 
-LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := \
-	libcrypto \
-	libssl \
-	libsqlcipher \
-	libsqlite3_android
+#LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := libsqlcipher_android
+LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES := libsqlcipher_android libicuuc
 
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += -U__APPLE__
-LOCAL_LDFLAGS += -L../external/android-libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI) -L../external/libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
+LOCAL_LDFLAGS += -L$(EXTERNAL_PATH)/android-libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI) -L$(EXTERNAL_PATH)/libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
 
 # libs from the NDK
 LOCAL_LDLIBS += -ldl -llog
 # libnativehelper and libandroid_runtime are included with Android but not the NDK
-LOCAL_LDLIBS += -lnativehelper -landroid_runtime -lutils -lbinder
-# these are build in the ../external section
+LOCAL_LDLIBS += -lnativehelper -landroid_runtime -lutils -lbinder -lcrypto
 
-LOCAL_LDLIBS  += -lsqlcipher_android
-LOCAL_LDFLAGS += -L../obj/local/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)
-LOCAL_LDLIBS  += -licui18n -licuuc
+# these are build in the ../external section
 
 ifeq ($(WITH_MALLOC_LEAK_CHECK),true)
 	LOCAL_CFLAGS += -DMALLOC_LEAK_CHECK
@@ -69,4 +63,5 @@ LOCAL_MODULE:= libdatabase_sqlcipher
 
 include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
 
-include $(call all-makefiles-under,$(LOCAL_PATH))
+$(call import-module,external)
+
diff --git a/jni/Application.mk b/jni/Application.mk
index ea9d6e28..c01d8f77 100644
--- a/jni/Application.mk
+++ b/jni/Application.mk
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 APP_PROJECT_PATH := $(shell pwd)
 APP_ABI := armeabi x86
-APP_BUILD_SCRIPT := $(APP_PROJECT_PATH)/Android.mk
+#APP_PLATFORM := android-8
+NDK_MODULE_PATH=$(APP_PROJECT_PATH)
 # fixes this error when building external/android-sqlite/android/sqlite3_android.cpp
 #   icu4c/common/unicode/std_string.h:39:18: error: string: No such file or directory
 APP_STL := stlport_shared
+
diff --git a/src/net/sqlcipher/database/SQLiteDatabase.java b/src/net/sqlcipher/database/SQLiteDatabase.java
index 95fead55..9d6515a9 100644
--- a/src/net/sqlcipher/database/SQLiteDatabase.java
+++ b/src/net/sqlcipher/database/SQLiteDatabase.java
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ public static void loadLibs (Context context) {
     public static void loadLibs (Context context, File workingDir)
     {
         System.loadLibrary("stlport_shared");
-        System.loadLibrary("sqlcipher_android");
         System.loadLibrary("database_sqlcipher");
 
         boolean systemICUFileExists = new File("/system/usr/icu/icudt46l.dat").exists();