diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index e923bfd1e3..465b740403 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ else
 EXAMPLES_DIR=
 endif
 
+ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I common/m4
+
 SUBDIRS=gst-libs \
 	gst sys $(EXT_DIR) \
 	$(EXAMPLES_DIR) \