diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 68d8717..f1b9a81 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CXX
 
-AM_PROG_AR
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])
 LT_INIT
 
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])