diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0d074a97a39ae2c070e4c140c01f590eba76757b..09b51f991c807299b521da117a302f49658e71a0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 AC_CHECK_PROGS([GZIP_PROGRAM],[gzip])
 AC_CHECK_PROGS([TAR_PROGRAM],[gtar tar])
+AC_ARG_VAR([GZIP_PROGRAM],[name of gzip program])
+AC_ARG_VAR([TAR_PROGRAM],[name of tar program (need _not_ be GNU-tar)])
 
 # Compiler characteristics
 dnl