diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 75facadb9a..7c95c8bbca 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -190,6 +190,9 @@ echores() {
 }
 #############################################################################
 
+# Solaris has broken stone-age tools in the standard locations
+sunos && test -d /usr/xpg4/bin && PATH=/usr/xpg4/bin:$PATH
+
 # Check how echo works in this /bin/sh
 case `echo -n` in
   -n)	_echo_n=	_echo_c='\c'	;;	# SysV echo