diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9cc3f1a99..f04d77848 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ m4_define([HEADING],
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
 AC_REQUIRE_AUX_FILE([guestfs-test-driver])
 
+AC_USE_SYSTEM_EXTENSIONS
+
 dnl Initialize automake.
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(foreign subdir-objects tar-pax) dnl NB: Do not [quote] this parameter.
 
@@ -40,6 +42,9 @@ AM_SILENT_RULES([yes]) # make --enable-silent-rules the default.
 
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
+dnl Initialize libtool.
+LT_INIT
+
 dnl Stable or development version?
 BRANCH_NUMBER=libguestfs_major.libguestfs_minor
 AC_SUBST([BRANCH_NUMBER])
diff --git a/m4/guestfs-progs.m4 b/m4/guestfs-progs.m4
index 4c07a4883..757d50d88 100644
--- a/m4/guestfs-progs.m4
+++ b/m4/guestfs-progs.m4
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ m4_ifdef([AC_PROG_SED],[
 # Define $(AWK).
 AC_PROG_AWK
 
-AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 
 dnl Check for cpio which isn't in the default Pardus install amazingly.