diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 05cfbe847..4913d4db0 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ if $try_aa; then
 		aa_msg=yes
 		AC_DEFINE(HAVE_AA)
 		AA_CFLAGS="`aalib-config --cflags`"
-		AA_LIBS="`aalib-config --libs`"
+		AA_LIBS="`aalib-config --libs || echo ' -laa'`"
 	)
 fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_AA, $have_aa)