diff --git a/cde/configure.ac b/cde/configure.ac
index 115963ac6..2a8bfacd5 100644
--- a/cde/configure.ac
+++ b/cde/configure.ac
@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ AC_CHECK_PROGS(GENCAT, gencat)
 if test -z "$ac_cv_prog_GENCAT"; then
    MISSING_PROGS="gencat ${MISSING_PROGS}"
 fi
+AC_CHECK_PROGS(PATCH, patch)
+if test -z "$ac_cv_prog_PATCH"; then
+   MISSING_PROGS="patch ${MISSING_PROGS}"
+fi
 
 dnl headers
 AC_HEADER_STDC
diff --git a/cde/programs/dtksh/Makefile.am b/cde/programs/dtksh/Makefile.am
index aa92483c2..9a52eea70 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtksh/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/programs/dtksh/Makefile.am
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ dtksh_SOURCES = init.c \
 init.c:
 	cd ksh93; ./bin/package flat make CCFLAGS='$(SUIDEXECDEFINES) -g -D_std_malloc'
 	cp ./ksh93/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/init.c init.c
-	patch --posix init.c -i init.patch
+	$(PATCH) --posix init.c -i init.patch
 	./setup.sh