diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7c24a17..1f942a1 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wall -Werror subdir-objects])
 AM_SILENT_RULES
-m4_pattern_allow([AM_PROG_AR])
-AM_PROG_AR
+m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])
 LT_INIT
 
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST