diff -wpruN --no-dereference '--exclude=*.orig' a~/Lib/ctypes/util.py a/Lib/ctypes/util.py
--- a~/Lib/ctypes/util.py	1970-01-01 00:00:00
+++ a/Lib/ctypes/util.py	1970-01-01 00:00:00
@@ -239,43 +239,56 @@ elif os.name == "posix":
     elif sys.platform == "sunos5":
 
         def _findLib_crle(name, is64):
-            if not os.path.exists('/usr/bin/crle'):
-                return None
-
             env = dict(os.environ)
             env['LC_ALL'] = 'C'
 
+            paths = []
+
             if is64:
-                args = ('/usr/bin/crle', '-64')
+                var = 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH_64'
             else:
-                args = ('/usr/bin/crle',)
+                var = 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH_32'
+
+            if (lp := env.get(var)) or (lp := env.get('LD_LIBRARY_PATH')):
+                paths.extend(lp.split(':'))
+
+            if os.path.exists('/usr/bin/crle'):
+                args = ['/usr/bin/crle']
+                if is64:
+                    args.append('-64')
+                    var = 'LD_CONFIG_64'
+                else:
+                    var = 'LD_CONFIG_32'
+
+                if (cfg := env.get(var)) or (cfg := env.get('LD_CONFIG')):
+                        args.extend(['-c', cfg])
 
-            paths = None
             try:
-                proc = subprocess.Popen(args,
-                                        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
-                                        env=env)
+                    with subprocess.Popen(args,
+                      stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                      env=env) as proc:
+                        for line in proc.stdout: #WS
+                            line = line.strip() #WS
+                            if line.startswith(
+                              b'Default Library Path (ELF):'):
+                                paths.extend(
+                                    os.fsdecode(line).split()[4].split(':'))
+                                break
             except OSError:  # E.g. bad executable
-                return None
-            with proc:
-                for line in proc.stdout:
-                    line = line.strip()
-                    if line.startswith(b'Default Library Path (ELF):'):
-                        paths = os.fsdecode(line).split()[4]
+                    pass
 
             if not paths:
                 return None
 
-            for dir in paths.split(":"):
-                libfile = os.path.join(dir, "lib%s.so" % name)
+            for dir in paths:
+                libfile = os.path.join(dir, f'lib{name}.so')
                 if os.path.exists(libfile):
                     return libfile
 
             return None
 
         def find_library(name, is64 = False):
-            return _get_soname(_findLib_crle(name, is64) or _findLib_gcc(name))
+            return _get_soname(_findLib_crle(name, is64))
 
     else: