diff --git a/mex/build/matlab/configure.ac b/mex/build/matlab/configure.ac
index 43c5e2f51..b52b70cf9 100644
--- a/mex/build/matlab/configure.ac
+++ b/mex/build/matlab/configure.ac
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall -Wno-parentheses"
 FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -Wall"
 CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -Wall -Wno-parentheses"
 
-AC_PROG_F77
+AC_PROG_F77([gfortran g77 f77])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_FORT], [test "x$F77" != "x"])
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CXX
diff --git a/mex/build/octave/configure.ac b/mex/build/octave/configure.ac
index 3d6868daf..75cf4a937 100644
--- a/mex/build/octave/configure.ac
+++ b/mex/build/octave/configure.ac
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall -Wno-parentheses"
 FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -Wall"
 CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -Wall -Wno-parentheses"
 
-AC_PROG_F77
+AC_PROG_F77([gfortran g77 f77])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_FORT], [test "x$F77" != "x"])
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CXX