diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index a275f0108..2062a200d 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ bin_SCRIPTS = guile-tools
 
 include_HEADERS = libguile.h
 
-EXTRA_DIST = LICENSE HACKING GUILE-VERSION FAQ guile-1.8.pc.in
+EXTRA_DIST = LICENSE HACKING GUILE-VERSION FAQ guile-1.8.pc.in	\
+	     m4/autobuild.m4
 
 TESTS = check-guile
 
-ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I guile-config
+ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I guile-config -I m4
 
 DISTCLEANFILES = check-guile.log
 
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 88adae2b6..713e63443 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ AC_LANG([C])
 dnl Some more checks for Win32
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 
+AB_INIT
+
 AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLL
 
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
diff --git a/m4/autobuild.m4 b/m4/autobuild.m4
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a025e7379
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/autobuild.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# autobuild.m4 serial 7
+dnl Copyright (C) 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+dnl This file is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+dnl gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+dnl with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+dnl From Simon Josefsson
+
+# Usage: AB_INIT([MODE]).
+AC_DEFUN([AB_INIT],
+[
+  AC_REQUIRE([AC_CANONICAL_BUILD])
+  AC_REQUIRE([AC_CANONICAL_HOST])
+
+  if test -z "$AB_PACKAGE"; then
+    AB_PACKAGE=${PACKAGE_NAME:-$PACKAGE}
+  fi
+  AC_MSG_NOTICE([autobuild project... $AB_PACKAGE])
+
+  if test -z "$AB_VERSION"; then
+    AB_VERSION=${PACKAGE_VERSION:-$VERSION}
+  fi
+  AC_MSG_NOTICE([autobuild revision... $AB_VERSION])
+
+  hostname=`hostname`
+  if test "$hostname"; then
+    AC_MSG_NOTICE([autobuild hostname... $hostname])
+  fi
+
+  ifelse([$1],[],,[AC_MSG_NOTICE([autobuild mode... $1])])
+
+  date=`TZ=UTC0 date +%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ`
+  if test "$?" != 0; then
+    date=`date`
+  fi
+  if test "$date"; then
+    AC_MSG_NOTICE([autobuild timestamp... $date])
+  fi
+])