diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f6f5f21fc..9aa781a12 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ ACX_CHECK_COMPILER_FLAG(g, [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -g"])
 ACX_CHECK_COMPILER_FLAG(O2, [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -O2"])
 default_cflags=yes
 fi
-AC_PROG_CC
+m4_version_prereq([2.70], [AC_PROG_CC], [AC_PROG_CC_STDC])
 ACX_DEPFLAG
 ACX_DETERMINE_EXT_FLAGS_UNBOUND