diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f54bb92..9f36932 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AM_PROG_LEX
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])
 AC_PROG_YACC
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile doc/Makefile src/Makefile src/lib/Makefile src/tools/Makefile extras/Makefile])