diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1330331c..78455304 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -344,6 +344,11 @@ if test -z "${docdir}"; then
 	docdir="\$(datarootdir)/doc/\$(PACKAGE_NAME)"
 	AC_SUBST([docdir])
 fi
+# workaround for <automake-1.10
+if test -z "${MKDIR_P}"; then
+	MKDIR_P="\$(mkdir_p)"
+	AC_SUBST([MKDIR_P])
+fi
 
 # generate files
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 1bf4fb7d..e04776c8 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ endif
 
 if ENABLE_MOUNT_HELPER
 install-exec-local:	install-rootbinPROGRAMS
-	$(mkdir_p) "$(DESTDIR)/sbin"
+	$(MKDIR_P) "$(DESTDIR)/sbin"
 	$(LN_S) -f "$(rootbindir)/ntfs-3g" "$(DESTDIR)/sbin/mount.ntfs-3g"
 endif