diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c11fa03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# initialisation
+AC_INIT([openbmc-console], 0.1, [Jeremy Kerr <jk@ozlabs.org>])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
+AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
+
+# required tools
+AC_PROG_CC
+
+# output
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile])
+AC_OUTPUT