diff --git a/package/pamtester/pamtester.mk b/package/pamtester/pamtester.mk
index b09e4d1cc0..77867403c3 100644
--- a/package/pamtester/pamtester.mk
+++ b/package/pamtester/pamtester.mk
@@ -10,4 +10,9 @@ PAMTESTER_DEPENDENCIES = linux-pam
 PAMTESTER_LICENSE = BSD-3-Clause
 PAMTESTER_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 
+# Obsolete constructs in the archaic configure.in generated an outworn
+# configure script that incorrectly searches a C++ compiler. Regenerate
+# the autoconf machinery to avoid failures without a C++ compiler.
+PAMTESTER_AUTORECONF = YES
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))