--- configure.ac	2011-02-27 00:42:45.000000000 +0100
+++ configure.ac	2013-06-15 22:28:45.320425450 +0200
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ 
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_DEFUN([gl_CXX_CHOICE_DEFAULT_NO])
 M4_EARLY
+AN_MAKEVAR([AR], [AC_PROG_AR])
+AN_PROGRAM([ar], [AC_PROG_AR])
+AC_DEFUN([AC_PROG_AR], [AC_CHECK_TOOL(AR, ar, :)])
+AC_PROG_AR
 
 # Maintainer note - comment this line out if you plan to rerun
 # GNULIB_POSIXCHECK testing to see if M4 should be using more modules.
--- lib/Makefile.in	2011-03-01 17:57:32.000000000 +0100
+++ lib/Makefile.in	2013-06-15 22:28:36.100411927 +0200
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ 
 CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES =
 CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES =
 LIBRARIES = $(noinst_LIBRARIES)
-AR = ar
+AR = @AR@
 ARFLAGS = cru
 AM_V_AR = $(am__v_AR_$(V))
 am__v_AR_ = $(am__v_AR_$(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY))