diff --git a/scripts/release/get-package-and-version.shinc b/scripts/release/get-package-and-version.shinc
index c0cf8d6fd34fb3b813a29e956026f33fe977e62d..a660276f2dfe36009a3d14603aa7e49d71e375a4 100644
--- a/scripts/release/get-package-and-version.shinc
+++ b/scripts/release/get-package-and-version.shinc
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 # SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #
 # meant to be included in shell scripts
-package=$(autoconf '--trace=AC_INIT:$1#$2')
+package=$(${AUTOCONF-autoconf} -f '--trace=AC_INIT:$1#$2')
 version=${package#*#}
 package=${package%#*}
 hostname=${hostname-$(hostname)}