diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index b29b7c8da8..944c1d6787 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ patch -p0 < common/gettext.patch
 if test -f acinclude.m4; then rm acinclude.m4; fi
 
 tool_run "$libtoolize" "--copy --force"
-tool_run "$aclocal" "-I common/m4 -I. $ACLOCAL_FLAGS"
+tool_run "$aclocal" "-I common/m4 -I . $ACLOCAL_FLAGS"
 tool_run "$autoheader"
 
 # touch the stamp-h.in build stamp so we don't re-run autoheader in maintainer mode -- wingo