diff --git a/binutils.spec b/binutils.spec
index a891cc7..a21d61f 100644
--- a/binutils.spec
+++ b/binutils.spec
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ BuildRequires: scl-utils-build
 Summary: A GNU collection of binary utilities
 Name: %{?scl_prefix}binutils
 Version: 2.40
-Release: 16%{?dist}
+Release: 17%{?dist}
 License: GPLv3+
 URL: https://sourceware.org/binutils
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ URL: https://sourceware.org/binutils
 # --without docs         Skip building documentation.  Default is with docs, except when building a cross binutils.
 # --without gold         Disable building of the GOLD linker.
 # --without gprofng      Do not build the GprofNG profiler.
-# --without systemzlib   Use the binutils version of zlib.
+# --with    systemzlib   Use the binutils version of zlib.
 # --without testsuite    Do not run the testsuite.  Default is to run it.
 
 # Other configuration options can be set by modifying the following defines.
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ URL: https://sourceware.org/binutils
 %bcond_without debuginfod
 # Default: build binutils-gprofng package.
 %bcond_without gprofng
-# Use the system supplied version of the zlib compress library.
+# Default: Do not use the system supplied version of the zlib compression library.
 # Change this to use the binutils builtin version instead.
-%bcond_without systemzlib
+%bcond_with systemzlib
 
 # Allow the user to override the compiler used to build the binutils.
 # The default build compiler is gcc if %%toolchain is not clang.
@@ -1190,9 +1190,10 @@ exit 0
 %license COPYING COPYING3 COPYING3.LIB COPYING.LIB
 %doc README
 %{_bindir}/[!l]*
-# %%verify(symlink) does not work for some reason, so using "owner" instead.
+# %%verify(symlink) is not support in RHEL, so check owner instead.
 %verify(owner) %{_bindir}/ld
-%{_bindir}/ld.bfd
+# The mtime check fails for ld.bfd because of the laternatives mechanism, so ignore it.
+%verify(owner) %{_bindir}/ld.bfd
 
 %if %{with gprofng}
 %exclude %{_bindir}/gp-*
@@ -1285,6 +1286,10 @@ exit 0
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 %changelog
+* Thu Jan 11 2024 Nick Clifton  <nickc@redhat.com> - 2.40-17
+- Spec File: Do not use of the system zlib by default.  (RHEL-19373)
+- Spec File: Do not check the mtime of ld.bfd. (RHEL-21303)
+
 * Tue Dec 12 2023 Nick Clifton  <nickc@redhat.com> - 2.40-16
 - Disable building static libraries with LTO.  (RHEL-18800)