diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 2d6863797decebc9e403e6b63d5c3088e33d2aa6..909cd9b64c53561d82881cd198ff35ad336e8bbc 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -19931,6 +19931,13 @@ if eval "test \"`echo '$ac_cv_prog_cc_'${ac_cc}_c_o`\" != yes"; then
 fi
 
 
+if test x$AR = xfalse; then
+  { { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: Cannot find a valid 'ar' tool" >&5
+echo "$as_me: error: Cannot find a valid 'ar' tool" >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+fi
+
+
 # Checks for libraries.
 
 { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for socket in -lsocket" >&5
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2cb92d80957dedb7091e9b049990ee49cb2bd5fa..2cd6c2e8ee4e35fac6fd9fd5a79e4b39c59cf76e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLL
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 
+AS_IF([test x$AR = xfalse],
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find a valid 'ar' tool]))
+
 # Checks for libraries.
 AC_CHECK_LIB([socket], [socket])
 AC_CHECK_LIB([nsl], [gethostbyname])