diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d80ec6fe..305c858d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -416,7 +416,9 @@ fi
 echo
 echo "Initializing Automake:"
 
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.10 foreign tar-v7 filename-length-max=99])
+# Automake 1.10 should still be enough but you need to omit serial-tests.
+dnl AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.10 foreign tar-v7 filename-length-max=99])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.12 foreign tar-v7 filename-length-max=99 serial-tests])
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 
 AC_PROG_CC_C99