diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index 7932c16..1778d38 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ AC_COPYRIGHT([Copyright (C) 2014
 AC_INIT([xfce4-i3-workspaces-plugin], [plugin_version], [https://github.com/denesb/xfce4-i3-workspaces-plugin/issues], [xfce4-i3-workspaces-plugin])
 AC_PREREQ([2.50])
 AC_REVISION([xfce4_panel_version_build])
+AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIRS([m4])
 
 dnl ***************************
 dnl *** Initialize automake ***
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ dnl ***************************
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.8 no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2 tar-ustar])
 AM_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE()
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.21])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
 m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
 
 dnl **************************