diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 62a2111b..1e17fd28 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ AC_ARG_PROGRAM
 AM_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
 dnl * ahem.. :) we don't want static libraries for modules
+if test "x$lt_target" = "x"; then
+	if "x$target" = "x"; then
+		lt_target="$host"
+	else
+		lt_target="$target"
+	fi
+fi
+
 ${CONFIG_SHELL-/bin/sh} $ac_aux_dir/ltconfig --no-reexec \
 $libtool_flags --disable-static --output=libtool-static --no-verify $ac_aux_dir/ltmain.sh $lt_target \
 || { echo "configure: error: libtool configure failed" 1>&2; exit 1; }