diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index d03a40c8d6fac813cdb0bc14bbf23b7674bab194..221d4086bb8079daa839a209f5b5b51a7aec26ef 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ DIE=0
 	DIE=1
 }
 
-(libtoolize --version) < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 || {
+test -z "$LIBTOOLIZE" && LIBTOOLIZE=libtoolize
+
+($LIBTOOLIZE --version) < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 || {
 	echo
 	echo "You must have libtool installed to compile libxml."
 	echo "Download the appropriate package for your distribution,"