diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 79f14e673..132910ce3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@ LT_INIT([disable-static])
 # i18n
 IT_PROG_INTLTOOL([0.40])
 
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.17])
-
 GETTEXT_PACKAGE=gnome-shell
 AC_SUBST(GETTEXT_PACKAGE)
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(GETTEXT_PACKAGE, "$GETTEXT_PACKAGE",