diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 3aa8cf8..70b4895 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@
 
 uninstall-hook:
 	cat ${top_builddir}/python_install.log \
-	| awk '{print "$(DESTDIR)"$$1}' | xargs rm -fv
+	| $(AWK) '{print "$(DESTDIR)"$$1}' | xargs rm -fv
 
 endif
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c54b16c..f3b8e5c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 AM_PROG_AR
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
+AC_PROG_AWK
 # Python
 AM_PATH_PYTHON([2.7], [AC_SUBST([PYTHON], [echo "$PYTHON"])], [AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find python-2.7 installed...python-2.7 is required])])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_PYTHON], [test "$PYTHON" != :])