diff --git i/configure.ac w/configure.ac
index 97ab9e7..8cd2efb 100644
--- i/configure.ac
+++ w/configure.ac
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ AC_MSG_RESULT($val)
 # optional libraries.
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CPP
+AN_MAKEVAR([AR], [AC_PROG_AR])
+AN_PROGRAM([ar], [AC_PROG_AR])
+AC_DEFUN([AC_PROG_AR], [AC_CHECK_TOOL(AR, ar, :)])
+AC_PROG_AR
 
 # added -Wall for gcc, what about for others?
 if test "x$GCC" = "xyes"; then
diff --git i/libs/Makefile.in w/libs/Makefile.in
index 28b6732..c66d3e4 100644
--- i/libs/Makefile.in
+++ w/libs/Makefile.in
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ CONFIG_HEADER = $(top_builddir)/config.h
 CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES =
 CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES =
 LIBRARIES = $(noinst_LIBRARIES)
-AR = ar
+AR = @AR@
 ARFLAGS = cru
 AM_V_AR = $(am__v_AR_@AM_V@)
 am__v_AR_ = $(am__v_AR_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
diff --git i/modules/FvwmScript/Widgets/Makefile.in w/modules/FvwmScript/Widgets/Makefile.in
index 8bda02d..582b046 100644
--- i/modules/FvwmScript/Widgets/Makefile.in
+++ w/modules/FvwmScript/Widgets/Makefile.in
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ CONFIG_HEADER = $(top_builddir)/config.h
 CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES =
 CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES =
 LIBRARIES = $(noinst_LIBRARIES)
-AR = ar
+AR = @AR@
 ARFLAGS = cru
 AM_V_AR = $(am__v_AR_@AM_V@)
 am__v_AR_ = $(am__v_AR_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)