diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e4aa2e4..3b1b3c5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wall foreign tar-pax no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2
 	1.6 subdir-objects])
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])
 
 dnl kernel style compile messages
 m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])