diff --git a/sane-backends.spec b/sane-backends.spec
index 5ed96d6..139e3b6 100644
--- a/sane-backends.spec
+++ b/sane-backends.spec
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ Patch3: sane-genesys-gl845-crash.patch
 
 URL: http://www.sane-project.org
 
+# we need autoconf during build
+BuildRequires: autoconf
 BuildRequires: gettext
 # gcc is no longer in buildroot by default
 BuildRequires: gcc