--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ AC_PREREQ(2.59)
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 AC_PROG_CC
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
+AM_PROG_AR
 gl_EARLY
 AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_PROG_RANLIB