diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 175d7f3b..6dfced8d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 
 orig_CFLAGS="$CFLAGS"
 
+AM_PROG_AR
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AC_CHECK_PROG(HAVE_PYTHON, python, true, false)