diff --git a/m4/slibtool.m4 b/m4/slibtool.m4
index 7e81820..cd124c1 100644
--- a/m4/slibtool.m4
+++ b/m4/slibtool.m4
@@ -559,7 +559,8 @@ AC_PROG_F77
 AC_CONFIG_COMMANDS_PRE(
 	AC_CONFIG_FILES(
 		[slibtool.cfg:Makefile],
-		[${SLIBTOOL:-slibtool} --mkvars=Makefile --config > slibtool.cfg],
+		[_slibtool="${SLIBTOOL:-slibtool}";]
+		[${_slibtool%% *} --mkvars=Makefile --config > slibtool.cfg],
 		[rm -f slibtool.cfg || exit 2]))
 
 # optionally create libtool as a symlink to slibtool.sh