--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 # We need ranlib to make the library, and we need to define make
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AM_PROG_AR
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
 
 # Ensure that we set ENT (and set it to false). This flag affects