diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d9624de33..9f82e96a6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ lock_ex.o: compile hasflock.h lock.h lock_ex.c
 lock_exnb.o: compile hasflock.h lock.h lock_exnb.c
 	./compile lock_exnb.c
 
-makelib: print-ar.sh systype warn-auto.sh
+makelib: conf-ar print-ar.sh systype warn-auto.sh
 	rm -f makelib
 	sh print-ar.sh > makelib
 	chmod 555 makelib
diff --git a/conf-ar b/conf-ar
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13beaeec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf-ar
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ar
diff --git a/conf-ranlib b/conf-ranlib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6906e90ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf-ranlib
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ranlib
diff --git a/print-ar.sh b/print-ar.sh
index 99bc1162f..21d7cd2b1 100644
--- a/print-ar.sh
+++ b/print-ar.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+ar="`head -n1 conf-ar`"
+ranlib="`head -n1 conf-ranlib`"
+systype="`cat systype`"
+
 cat warn-auto.sh
 echo 'main="$1"; shift'
 echo 'rm -f "$main"'
-echo 'ar cr "$main" ${1+"$@"}'
-case "`cat systype`" in
+echo "$ar" 'cr "$main" ${1+"$@"}'
+case "$systype" in
   sunos-5.*) ;;
   unix_sv*) ;;
   irix64-*) ;;
@@ -10,5 +14,5 @@ case "`cat systype`" in
   dgux-*) ;;
   hp-ux-*) ;;
   sco*) ;;
-  *) echo 'ranlib "$main"' ;;
+  *) echo "$ranlib" '"$main"' ;;
 esac