diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index bc7ab429e71..46d8eebbdfe 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -49,9 +49,6 @@ IT_PROG_INTLTOOL([0.40.0])
 GETTEXT_PACKAGE=systemd
 AC_SUBST(GETTEXT_PACKAGE)
 
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
-AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.18.1])
-
 AC_PROG_MKDIR_P
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 AC_PROG_SED