-# same applies for GNU autoconf, we want to use version 2.59.
-AUTOMAKE_VERSION=1.7
-AUTOCONF_VERSION=2.59
-export AUTOMAKE_VERSION AUTOCONF_VERSION
-WANT_AUTOMAKE=1.7
-export WANT_AUTOMAKE
+# same applies for GNU autoconf, we want to use version 2.59. -- But only
+# set these preferences if not already set!
+if [ -z "$AUTOMAKE_VERSION" -a -z "$WANT_AUTOMAKE" ]; then
+ AUTOMAKE_VERSION=1.9
+ WANT_AUTOMAKE=1.9
+fi
+if [ -z "$AUTOCONF_VERSION" -a -z "$WANT_AUTOCONF" ]; then
+ AUTOCONF_VERSION=2.59
+ WANT_AUTOCONF=2.59
+fi
+export AUTOMAKE_VERSION WANT_AUTOMAKE AUTOCONF_VERSION WANT_AUTOCONF