diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index deeca31c..08bed2b1 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ AC_EXEEXT
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AC_PROG_YACC
 gl_EARLY
+AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [ar])
 
 AC_SYS_LARGEFILE
 AC_C_INLINE