diff --git a/src/gtest/Makefile.am b/src/gtest/Makefile.am
index 4188c6b25ec..c338977e69d 100644
--- a/src/gtest/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/gtest/Makefile.am
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS
 # IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+
 AM_CFLAGS = $(DEFINES) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/gtest/include
 AM_CXXFLAGS = $(DEFINES) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/gtest/include