diff --git a/alliance/src/alliance.m4 b/alliance/src/alliance.m4
index 42ccc6b8..84ca5b94 100644
--- a/alliance/src/alliance.m4
+++ b/alliance/src/alliance.m4
@@ -104,4 +104,8 @@ AC_SUBST(INSTALL_PROGRAM)
 
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(ALLIANCE_VERSION, "5.0")
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(ALLIANCE_TOP, "$ALLIANCE_TOP")
+
+AC_CHECK_LIB(gen, basename)
+AC_CHECK_LIB(iberty, basename)
+
 ])