diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 06d9d72329..411a3f3f59 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ if test -x mkinstalldirs; then rm mkinstalldirs; fi
 #    first remove patch if necessary, then run autopoint, then reapply
 if test -f po/Makefile.in.in;
 then
-  patch -p0 -R < common/gettext.patch
+  patch -p0 -R --forward < common/gettext.patch
 fi
 tool_run "$autopoint --force"
 patch -p0 < common/gettext.patch