diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 49436bf1..50c5520f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ AC_PREREQ(2.50)
 
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([irssi-config.h])
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.9 no-define foreign])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.9 no-define foreign subdir-objects])
 
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])