diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 223b44bdc..114419ec1 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -8,3 +8,5 @@ EXTRA_DIST = HACKING MAINTAINERS rationales.txt
 DISTCLEANFILES = intltool-extract intltool-merge intltool-update po/stamp-it po/.intltool-merge-cache
 
 DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = --enable-gtk-doc
+
+ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4 ${ACLOCAL_FLAGS}
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 75b382969..27183be14 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 AC_PREREQ(2.50)
+AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 m4_define([mutter_major_version], [3])
 m4_define([mutter_minor_version], [10])