diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 19149633f..51347875e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -288,8 +288,14 @@ AC_GNU_GETTEXT([external], [need-ngettext])
 po_makefile_in=po/Makefile.in
 have_po="yes"
 ],[
+m4_ifdef([AM_GNU_GETTEXT], [
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external], [need-ngettext])
+po_makefile_in=po/Makefile.in
+have_po="yes"
+],[
 have_po="no"
 ])
+])
 AC_SUBST(LTLIBINTL)
 if test "x$LIBINTL" = "x"; then
   LIBINTL="$INTLLIBS"