diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
index 6f9467c1e..8b5ee19f9 100755
--- a/bootstrap
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -1,2 +1,21 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+
+ltver=`libtool --version | sed -e 's/.*(GNU libtool) *\([0-9]\+\(\.[0-9]\+\)\+\).*/\1/'`
+amver=`automake --version | grep '(GNU automake)' | sed -e 's/.*(GNU automake) *\([0-9]\+\(\.[0-9]\+\)\+\).*/\1/'`
+IFS="."
+set $ltver
+ltver_maj=$1
+ltver_min=$2
+set $amver
+amver_maj=$1
+amver_min=$2
+IFS=" "
+
+if test $ltver_maj -gt 1 -o $ltver_maj -eq 1 -a $ltver_min -ge 4; then
+	if test $amver_maj -lt 1 -o $amver_maj -eq 1 -a $amver_min -le 4; then
+		echo 'working around libtool >= 1.4 / automake <= 1.4 incompatability'
+		touch ltconfig
+	fi
+fi
+
 aclocal && autoheader && libtoolize --automake && automake --add-missing && autoconf