diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 543607cd..f077f2b3 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 ## 02111-1307  USA
 
 ## Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in -*-Makefile-*-
-AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = 1.5 check-news readme-alpha dist-bzip2
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = 1.6 check-news readme-alpha dist-bzip2
 
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4