--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(dist-bzip2)
 # Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CXX
 AC_PROG_CC
+AM_PROG_AR
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AC_PROG_YACC