--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ AC_TYPE_UINT16_T
 AC_TYPE_UINT32_T
 AC_TYPE_UINT8_T
 AC_CHECK_TYPES([ptrdiff_t])
-
+AC_CHECK_TOOL(AR, ar, false)
 
 
 
--- a/src/user_interface/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/user_interface/Makefile.in
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ CONFIG_HEADER = $(top_builddir)/config_cdw.h
 CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES =
 CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES =
 LIBRARIES = $(noinst_LIBRARIES)
-AR = ar
+AR = @AR@
 ARFLAGS = cru
 AM_V_AR = $(am__v_AR_@AM_V@)
 am__v_AR_ = $(am__v_AR_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)