diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 6b70c51f..8dd24ee6 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ ell/internal: Makefile
 	done > $@
 
 %.1: %.txt
-	$(AM_V_GEN)a2x --doctype manpage --format manpage $(srcdir)/$<
+	$(AM_V_GEN)$(A2X) --doctype manpage --format manpage $(srcdir)/$<
 
 maintainer-clean-local:
 	-rm -rf build-aux ell
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1995b1b0..9b123984 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(pie, AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-pie],
 	fi
 ])
 
+AC_PATH_PROG(A2X, [a2x], [], $PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin)
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(Makefile)
 
 AC_OUTPUT