diff --git a/colord.spec b/colord.spec
index c37efc5..e4a09f8 100644
--- a/colord.spec
+++ b/colord.spec
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Source0:   http://www.freedesktop.org/software/colord/releases/%{name}-%{version
 # backport from upstream -- only build one profile at a time
 Patch0:    notparallel.patch
 
+BuildRequires: automake
 BuildRequires: dbus-devel
 BuildRequires: docbook-utils
 BuildRequires: gettext
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ This may be useful for CMYK soft-proofing or for extra device support.
 %prep
 %setup -q
 %patch0 -p1 -b .notparallel
+automake
 
 %build
 # we can't use _hardened_build here, see