diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index a0703d7..117462c 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-autoreconf -ivf
+run ()
+{
+    echo "running: $*"
+    eval $*
+
+    if test $? != 0 ; then
+	echo "error: while running '$*'"
+	exit 1
+    fi
+}
+
+run aclocal
+run autoheader
+run automake -a
+run autoconf