--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AM_PROG_AR
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(xpm-lib,[  --with-xpm-lib          Directory containing libXpm (may be autodetected)],xpm_lib=$withval)
 AC_ARG_WITH(sound,  [  --with-sound            Type of sound to use (native or nas)],sound_type=$withval)