diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 5c9eee36e3..1471e25688 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ ${autoheader_cmd} || exit 1
 echo
 
 # AUTOMAKE
-automake_cmd="${HDF5_AUTOMAKE} --force-missing"
+automake_cmd="${HDF5_AUTOMAKE} --add-missing"
 echo ${automake_cmd}
 if [ "$verbose" = true ] ; then
     ${HDF5_AUTOMAKE} --version