diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 939941cb..74fb18c6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -8,12 +8,21 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.68])
 AC_INIT([getdns], [0.320], [melinda.shore@nomountain.net])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/getdns/getdns.h])
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
-LT_INIT
+# AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
+# LT_INIT
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 # Checks for programs.
+AC_CANONICAL_HOST
+case "$host_os" in
+  linux* ) CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=501" # unfortunate, but needed to
+                                                # pick up strdup() declaration
+                                                # in <string.h>
+  ;;     
+esac
+
 AC_PROG_CC
+AC_PROG_CPP
 
 # Checks for libraries.
 found_all_libs=1
@@ -26,6 +35,7 @@ then
     AC_MSG_ERROR([One more dependencies is missing])
 fi
 
+
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([inttypes.h netinet/in.h stdint.h stdlib.h string.h])