diff --git a/bootstrap.conf b/bootstrap.conf
index 88832d163f..2c425bbfb1 100644
--- a/bootstrap.conf
+++ b/bootstrap.conf
@@ -168,8 +168,10 @@ touch ChangeLog || exit 1
 
 bootstrap_epilogue()
 {
-  # Change paths in gnulib/tests/Makefile.am from "../../.." to "../..".
+  # Change paths in gnulib/tests/Makefile.am from "../../.." to "../..",
+  # then ensure that gnulib/tests/Makefile.in is up-to-date.
   m=gnulib/tests/Makefile.am
   sed 's,\.\./\.\./\.\.,../..,g' $m > $m-t
   mv -f $m-t $m
+  ${AUTOMAKE-automake} gnulib/tests/Makefile
 }