diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c2f4f22f8e..f5a276f627 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ m4_include([config/autogen_found_items.m4])
 # Load the version code.  Because this is also used directly as a
 # shell script, no ac_defun
 m4_include([config/opal_get_version.m4])
+AC_LANG([C])
 
 # Init autoconf