diff --git a/buildconf b/buildconf
index 84cd8e505e..8b6e4256b6 100755
--- a/buildconf
+++ b/buildconf
@@ -85,6 +85,14 @@ fi
 
 echo "buildconf: automake version $am_version (ok)"
 
+ac=`findtool aclocal`
+
+if test -z "$ac"; then
+  echo "buildconf: aclocal not found. Weird automake installation!"
+  exit 1
+else
+  echo "buildconf: aclocal found"
+fi
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # libtool check
@@ -142,6 +150,13 @@ fi
 
 echo "buildconf: libtool version $lt_version (ok)"
 
+if test -f "$LIBTOOLIZE"; then
+  echo "buildconf: libtoolize found"
+else
+  echo "buildconf: libtoolize not found. Weird libtool installation!"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # m4 check
 #