diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3e1a54567b..f15ec813e2 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ AC_INIT([GStreamer Ugly Plug-ins],[1.1.3.1],[http://bugzilla.gnome.org/enter_bug
 AG_GST_INIT
 
 dnl initialize automake
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wno-portability 1.11 no-dist-gzip dist-xz tar-ustar])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wno-portability 1.11 no-dist-gzip dist-xz tar-ustar subdir-objects])
 
 dnl define PACKAGE_VERSION_* variables
 AS_VERSION