diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 563b09b97b..534756903e 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ SUBDIRS = .
 
 EXTRA_DIST = autogen.sh
 
-ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4
+ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4 ${ACLOCAL_FLAGS}
 
 AM_MAKEFLAGS = --no-print-directory