diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7e86fdf42..30a14710d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ esac
 
 #### Checks for programs. ####
 
+# mkdir -p
+
+AC_PROG_MKDIR_P
+
 # CC
 
 AC_PROG_CC
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index dc3ba4f50..84649c48d 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -1151,9 +1151,9 @@ EXTRA_DIST += $(SYMDEF_FILES)
 BUILT_SOURCES += $(SYMDEF_FILES)
 
 $(SYMDEF_FILES): modules/module-defs.h.m4
-	-mkdir modules
-	-mkdir modules/gconf
-	-mkdir modules/rtp
+	$(MKDIR_P) modules
+	$(MKDIR_P) modules/gconf
+	$(MKDIR_P) modules/rtp
 	$(M4) -Dfname="$@" $< > $@
 
 # Simple protocol