diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5c22814a3dd17b7821317c64e8f6a6b88f282514..ae93e99157c31dd6f4ae1955b825bc903ef2e9c0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ AC_PROG_CC
 # contents of foo and foo.exe are equal; in the rntcl case, foo is a
 # sh script, and foo.exe is a windows executable.
 
-if "x$CC" = xrntcl ; then
+if test "x$CC" = xrntcl ; then
     AC_MSG_NOTICE([Compiling with rntcl; clearing exeext])
     ac_exeext=''
     ac_cv_exeext=''