diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 86946c27b..2b3ff34f7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ m4_define([libguestfs_release], [3])
 
 AC_INIT([libguestfs],libguestfs_major.libguestfs_minor.libguestfs_release)
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign serial-tests])
 
 m4_ifndef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [m4_define([AM_SILENT_RULES],[])])
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes]) # make --enable-silent-rules the default.