diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 536437c6262a0f7eec3d12692e7afe081da415d5_Y29uZmlndXJlLmFj..b9c07c8ab0b3f54ffd443a67e7444cc33e0616f6_Y29uZmlndXJlLmFj 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -643,5 +643,8 @@
 # Checks for libraries.
 ###############################################################################
 
+dnl Support for _REQUIRE_VERSION was added in gettext 0.19.6. If both
+dnl _REQUIRE_VERSION and _VERSION are present, the _VERSION is ignored.
+dnl We use both for compatibility with other programs in the Autotools family.
 echo
 echo "Initializing gettext:"
@@ -646,6 +649,7 @@
 echo
 echo "Initializing gettext:"
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.19])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_REQUIRE_VERSION([0.19.6])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.19.6])
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])