--- a/src/makesrcdist.sh
+++ b/src/makesrcdist.sh
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@
 targetdir=${targetdir-/tmp}
 dotag=${dotag-yes}
 snap=${snap-no}
+
+if ! test configure -nt configure.ac -a configure -nt VERSION ;then
+    set -x
+    rm -f configure
+    autoconf || exit 1
+    set +x
+fi
 
 while getopts ts o
 do	case "$o" in