diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ GNOME_DOC_INIT
 
 IT_PROG_INTLTOOL([0.40.1])
 
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.17])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+
 GETTEXT_PACKAGE=gnome-control-center-2.0
 AC_SUBST(GETTEXT_PACKAGE)
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(GETTEXT_PACKAGE, "$GETTEXT_PACKAGE", [Gettext package])