diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 7af3b79..545e69b 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ pkg_default_dir        = @PKG_DEFAULT_PATH@
 pkgconfigdir           = $(libdir)/pkgconfig
 nodist_pkgconfig_DATA  = libpkgconf.pc
 
-AM_CFLAGS = -Wall -Wextra -Wformat=2 -std=gnu99 -DPKG_DEFAULT_PATH=\"$(pkg_default_dir)\" -DSYSTEM_INCLUDEDIR=\"$(system_includedir)\" -DSYSTEM_LIBDIR=\"$(system_libdir)\"
+AM_CFLAGS = -DPKG_DEFAULT_PATH=\"$(pkg_default_dir)\" -DSYSTEM_INCLUDEDIR=\"$(system_includedir)\" -DSYSTEM_LIBDIR=\"$(system_libdir)\"
 
 bin_PROGRAMS = pkgconf
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libpkgconf.la
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2f284eb..ebc2406 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ dnl from the use of this software.
 AC_PREREQ([2.68])
 AC_INIT([pkgconf], [1.3.7], [http://github.com/pkgconf/pkgconf/issues])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([main.c])
+AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIRS([m4])
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-Wall], [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall"])
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-Wextra], [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wextra"])
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-Wformat=2], [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wformat=2"])
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-std=gnu99], [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -std=gnu99"], [
+	AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-std=c99], [CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -std=c99"])
+])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([libpkgconf/config.h])
 AC_CHECK_FUNCS([strlcpy strlcat strndup cygwin_conv_path])
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([sys/stat.h])
diff --git a/m4/ax_check_compile_flag.m4 b/m4/ax_check_compile_flag.m4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcabb92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/ax_check_compile_flag.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# ===========================================================================
+#  https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_check_compile_flag.html
+# ===========================================================================
+#
+# SYNOPSIS
+#
+#   AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG(FLAG, [ACTION-SUCCESS], [ACTION-FAILURE], [EXTRA-FLAGS], [INPUT])
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#
+#   Check whether the given FLAG works with the current language's compiler
+#   or gives an error.  (Warnings, however, are ignored)
+#
+#   ACTION-SUCCESS/ACTION-FAILURE are shell commands to execute on
+#   success/failure.
+#
+#   If EXTRA-FLAGS is defined, it is added to the current language's default
+#   flags (e.g. CFLAGS) when the check is done.  The check is thus made with
+#   the flags: "CFLAGS EXTRA-FLAGS FLAG".  This can for example be used to
+#   force the compiler to issue an error when a bad flag is given.
+#
+#   INPUT gives an alternative input source to AC_COMPILE_IFELSE.
+#
+#   NOTE: Implementation based on AX_CFLAGS_GCC_OPTION. Please keep this
+#   macro in sync with AX_CHECK_{PREPROC,LINK}_FLAG.
+#
+# LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright (c) 2008 Guido U. Draheim <guidod@gmx.de>
+#   Copyright (c) 2011 Maarten Bosmans <mkbosmans@gmail.com>
+#
+#   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+#   Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+#   option) any later version.
+#
+#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
+#   Public License for more details.
+#
+#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+#   with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
+#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
+#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
+#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
+#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
+#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
+#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
+#
+#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
+#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
+#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
+#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+
+#serial 5
+
+AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG],
+[AC_PREREQ(2.64)dnl for _AC_LANG_PREFIX and AS_VAR_IF
+AS_VAR_PUSHDEF([CACHEVAR],[ax_cv_check_[]_AC_LANG_ABBREV[]flags_$4_$1])dnl
+AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether _AC_LANG compiler accepts $1], CACHEVAR, [
+  ax_check_save_flags=$[]_AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS
+  _AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS="$[]_AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS $4 $1"
+  AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([m4_default([$5],[AC_LANG_PROGRAM()])],
+    [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[yes])],
+    [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[no])])
+  _AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS=$ax_check_save_flags])
+AS_VAR_IF(CACHEVAR,yes,
+  [m4_default([$2], :)],
+  [m4_default([$3], :)])
+AS_VAR_POPDEF([CACHEVAR])dnl
+])dnl AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAGS