--- a/configure.ac	2019-07-09 22:41:03.166948024 -0700
+++ b/configure.ac	2019-07-09 22:41:16.699948056 -0700
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@
 
 dnl Choose a default for the build_manual var. If the dist file is present in
 dnl the root then default to no, otherwise go for it.
-AC_CHECK_FILES( [$srcdir/DIST], 
-	[. $srcdir/DIST;], 
-	[build_manual=yes; ] )
+build_manual=yes;
 
 dnl Set to true if the manual should be built.
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_MANUAL, [test "x$build_manual" = "xyes"])