diff --git a/autoconf/m4/sanity_check.m4 b/autoconf/m4/sanity_check.m4
index 4c9dce6cb14..64cb4243c7a 100644
--- a/autoconf/m4/sanity_check.m4
+++ b/autoconf/m4/sanity_check.m4
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ if test "$?" -eq 0 -a -x "$sanity_path" ; then
   sanity=`$1 $2 2>&1 | grep "$3"`
   if test -z "$sanity" ; then
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+    sanity="0"
     if test "$4" -eq 1 ; then
       AC_MSG_WARN([Program ]$1[ failed to pass sanity check.])
     else
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ if test "$?" -eq 0 -a -x "$sanity_path" ; then
     fi
   else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+    sanity="1"
   fi
 else
   AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])