diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 80570db..63236c0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ AX_C___ATTRIBUTE__
 AC_TYPE_SIZE_T
 AC_TYPE_SSIZE_T
 
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external], [need-ngettext])
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.19.8])
 
 gl_INIT