diff --git a/cfg.mk b/cfg.mk
index 93bdddb16..76fda9ab9 100644
--- a/cfg.mk
+++ b/cfg.mk
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ sc_tests_list_consistency:
 	  cd $(top_srcdir);						\
 	  $(SHELL) build-aux/vc-list-files tests			\
 	    | grep -Ev '^tests/(factor/(run|create-test)|init)\.sh$$'	\
-	    | $(EGREP) "$$test_extensions_rx\$$";			\
+	    | grep -E "$$test_extensions_rx\$$";			\
 	} | sort | uniq -u | grep . && exit 1; :
 
 # Ensure that all version-controlled test scripts are executable.
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fc0d756dc..2b2f9468d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_PROG_GCC_TRADITIONAL
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AC_PROG_EGREP
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 gl_EARLY
 gl_SET_CRYPTO_CHECK_DEFAULT([auto-gpl-compat])