--- a/common/Makefile.in
+++ b/common/Makefile.in
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 all: $(LIBS)
 
 @INSTALL_LIB@/argus_common.a: $(COMMONOBJ)
-	rm -f $@; ar qc $@ $(COMMONOBJ)
+	rm -f $@; $(AR) qc $@ $(COMMONOBJ)
 	-$(RANLIB) $@
 
 scanner.c: scanner.l