diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c2b0a1a57..b29e04118 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ m4_define([libsubid_abi_micro], 0)
 m4_define([libsubid_abi], [libsubid_abi_major.libsubid_abi_minor.libsubid_abi_micro])
 AC_INIT([shadow], [4.14.0], [pkg-shadow-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org], [],
 	[https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow])
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign dist-xz])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign dist-xz subdir-objects])
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIRS([m4])
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])