diff --git a/virt-viewer.spec.in b/virt-viewer.spec.in
index ac236f4..ee91b5f 100644
--- a/virt-viewer.spec.in
+++ b/virt-viewer.spec.in
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # -*- rpm-spec -*-
 
+# Default to skipping autoreconf.  Distros can change just this one line
+# (or provide a command-line override) if they backport any patches that
+# touch configure.ac or Makefile.am.
+%{!?enable_autotools:%define enable_autotools 1}
+
 # Plugin isn't ready for real world use yet - it needs
 # a security audit at very least
 %define _with_plugin %{?with_plugin:1}%{!?with_plugin:0}
@@ -38,6 +43,13 @@ Requires(postun): %{_sbindir}/update-alternatives
 Requires(post): desktop-file-utils
 Requires(postun): desktop-file-utils
 
+%if 0%{?enable_autotools}
+BuildRequires: autoconf
+BuildRequires: automake
+BuildRequires: gettext-devel
+BuildRequires: libtool
+%endif
+
 BuildRequires: glib2-devel >= 2.22
 %if %{with_gtk3}
 BuildRequires: gtk3-devel >= 3.0.0
@@ -94,6 +106,10 @@ browsers.
 
 %build
 
+%if 0%{?enable_autotools}
+autoreconf -if
+%endif
+
 %if %{_with_plugin}
 %define plugin_arg --enable-plugin
 %else