diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index af7c3a8ce..32a6760a5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_PROG_SED
 AC_PROG_AWK
 AC_PROG_LN_S
+AM_PROG_AR
 
 dnl Gnulib.
 gl_INIT