diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ea8c143354..c33724886f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ then
    AC_CHECK_TOOL(CXX, g++, :)
    AC_CHECK_TOOL(LD, ld, :)
    AC_CHECK_TOOL(RANLIB, ranlib, :)
-   AC_CHECK_TOOL(AR, ar, :)
 fi
 
 # Checks for programs.
@@ -129,6 +128,7 @@ AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AST_CHECK_GNU_MAKE
 
 AC_PATH_TOOL([STRIP], [strip], :)
+AC_PATH_TOOL([AR], [ar], :)
 
 GNU_LD=0
 if test "x$with_gnu_ld" = "xyes" ; then
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ fi
 AC_SUBST(GNU_LD)
 
 AC_PATH_PROG([GREP], [grep], :)
-AC_PATH_PROG([AR], [ar], :)
 AC_PATH_PROG([FIND], [find], :)
 AC_PATH_PROG([COMPRESS], [compress], :)
 AC_PATH_PROG([BASENAME], [basename], :)