diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5795c4bdf4..b2756ff30d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -3249,7 +3249,7 @@ SLIB_CREATE_DEF_CMD=${SLIB_CREATE_DEF_CMD}
 SLIB_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_EXTRA_CMD}
 SLIB_INSTALL_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_INSTALL_EXTRA_CMD}
 SLIB_UNINSTALL_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_UNINSTALL_EXTRA_CMD}
-SAMPLES=$samples
+SAMPLES=${samples:-\$(FATE_SAMPLES)}
 EOF
 
 get_version(){