diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 0b2b1bc..74ecdb8 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -19,13 +19,6 @@
 # under the License.
 #
 
-have_ac_version=`autoconf --version | head -1 | cut -d' ' -f4`
-desired_ac_version=2.65
-if [ `expr $have_ac_version \>= $desired_ac_version` -eq "0" ]; then
-  echo "Must have autoconf $desired_ac_version of higher."
-  exit 1
-fi
-
 ./cleanup.sh
 
 autoscan || exit 1
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 02888fb..e5c59c1 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # under the License.
 #
 
-AC_PREREQ(2.59)
+AC_PREREQ(2.65)
 
 AC_INIT([thrift], [0.5.0-dev])