diff --git a/ares/configure.ac b/ares/configure.ac
index 034be0e23..c3d2b3073 100644
--- a/ares/configure.ac
+++ b/ares/configure.ac
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ solaris*)
 	;;
 esac
 
+dnl support building of Windows DLLs
 AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLL
 
 dnl ************************************************************
@@ -62,8 +63,13 @@ AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-debug],[Disable debug options]),
        AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
 )
 
+dnl skip libtool C++ and Fortran checks
+m4_undefine([AC_PROG_CXX])
+m4_defun([AC_PROG_CXX],[])
+m4_undefine([AC_PROG_F77])
+m4_defun([AC_PROG_F77],[])
+
 dnl libtool setup
-CARES_CLEAR_LIBTOOL_TAGS
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([if we need -no-undefined])
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c32137619..5e5630aee 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -112,9 +112,15 @@ AC_PROG_CC
 dnl check for how to do large files
 AC_SYS_LARGEFILE
 
-dnl check for cygwin stuff
+dnl support building of Windows DLLs
 AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLL
 
+dnl skip libtool C++ and Fortran checks
+m4_undefine([AC_PROG_CXX])
+m4_defun([AC_PROG_CXX],[])
+m4_undefine([AC_PROG_F77])
+m4_defun([AC_PROG_F77],[])
+
 dnl libtool setup
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL