diff --git a/acinclude.m4 b/acinclude.m4
index a8c4743..3cfe410 100644
--- a/acinclude.m4
+++ b/acinclude.m4
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ double d = 909042349670368103374704789055050114762116927356156320147971208440534
 
 ]])], [
 
-if strings -a conftest.$ac_objext | grep noonsees >/dev/null ; then
+if strings - conftest.$ac_objext | grep noonsees >/dev/null ; then
   ax_cv_c_float_words_bigendian=yes
 fi
-if strings -a conftest.$ac_objext | grep seesnoon >/dev/null ; then
+if strings - conftest.$ac_objext | grep seesnoon >/dev/null ; then
   if test "$ax_cv_c_float_words_bigendian" = unknown; then
     ax_cv_c_float_words_bigendian=no
   else