diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 7b945b0e54..5621a248d9 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -460,8 +460,8 @@ EOF
 ***   `pwd`
 
 EOF
-        elif test -f .ompi_ignore -a \
-             test -s .ompi_unignore -a \
+        elif test -f .ompi_ignore && \
+             test -s .ompi_unignore && \
              test -z "`grep $USER .ompi_unignore`" ; then
 
             # If we have a non-empty .ompi_unignore and our username