diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 609bb81..bba8f06 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile src/libuev.pc src/Makefile examples/Makefile tests/Mak
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 AC_PROG_CC
-AM_PROG_AR
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])
 LT_INIT
 
 # Optional features