diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 5a7e8149ea..88755aeadd 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@
 curdir:=tools
 
 # subdirectories to descend into
-$(curdir)/builddirs := sed sstrip ipkg-utils genext2fs squashfs mtd-utils lzma mkimage firmware-utils patch-cmdline pkg-config autoconf automake $(if $(CONFIG_CCACHE),ccache) bison $(if $(CONFIG_powerpc),dtc) quilt $(if $(CONFIG_GCC_VERSION_4_3),gmp mpfr) yaffs2
+$(curdir)/builddirs := sed sstrip ipkg-utils genext2fs squashfs mtd-utils lzma mkimage firmware-utils patch-cmdline pkg-config m4 autoconf automake $(if $(CONFIG_CCACHE),ccache) bison $(if $(CONFIG_powerpc),dtc) quilt $(if $(CONFIG_GCC_VERSION_4_3),gmp mpfr) yaffs2
 
 # builddir dependencies
 $(curdir)/squashfs/compile := $(curdir)/lzma/install
 $(curdir)/quilt/compile := $(curdir)/sed/install
 $(curdir)/dtc/compile := $(curdir)/bison/install
+$(curdir)/autoconf/compile := $(curdir)/m4/install
+$(curdir)/automake/compile := $(curdir)/m4/install
 
 # preparatory work
 $(STAGING_DIR)/.prepared: $(TMP_DIR)/.build