diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e4b55443e..243a099d2 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ AC_PROG_FC
 AC_FC_LIBRARY_LDFLAGS
 if test "X$FC" != "X" ; then
    fortran_ok=yes
+   F77=$FC
 fi
 
 dnl AM_CONDITIONAL( USE_GFORTRAN, [test "$F77" = "gfortran"])