diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6ca7add31..97d91cba6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ AC_INIT([mutter], [mutter_version],
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR(src/core/display.c)
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS(config.h)
 
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign no-dist-gzip dist-xz tar-ustar])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign no-dist-gzip dist-xz tar-ustar subdir-objects])
 m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES],[AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])],)
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE([enable])