diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 0c2b886..1a161c8 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# we require automake 1.13 or later
+# check must happen externally due to use of newer macro
+AUTOMAKE_VERSION=`automake --version | head -n1 | rev | sed -e 's/\s.*$//' | rev`
+if [ "$AUTOMAKE_VERSION" \< "1.13" ]; then
+  echo >&2 "automake version $AUTOMAKE_VERSION is too old (need 1.13 or later)"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 autoscan
 $LIBTOOLIZE --copy --automake
 aclocal -I ./aclocal