diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 01a2690b..6d61018c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ SAVED_CFLAGS=${CFLAGS}
 SAVED_CPPFLAGS=${CPPFLAGS}
 AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_PROG_CC
-AM_PROG_AR
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR)])
 AM_PROG_AS
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 AC_PROG_INSTALL