diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index eb6b07626..76e7c0853 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([autotools])
 dnl we have some extra macros in m4/
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([dist-xz foreign no-dist-gzip subdir-objects -Wall -Wno-override])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.9 dist-xz foreign no-dist-gzip subdir-objects -Wall -Wno-override tar-ustar])
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE([disable])
 
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.18])