diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
-AM_PATH_XML2(2.6.26)
 
 #basic low-level checks (suggested by autoscan)
 AC_CHECK_FUNCS([dup2])
diff --git a/src/client/Makefile.am b/src/client/Makefile.am
--- a/src/client/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/client/Makefile.am
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ lib_LTLIBRARIES = libdistren.la
 
 libdistren_la_SOURCES = distren.h libdistren.h libdistren.c libdistren_job.c libdistren_unbias.c libdistren_config.c
 #evidently the following should not be LDADD, but LDFLAGS because automake doesn't like the idea of LDADD for libraries for some reason... or I am very confused
-libdistren_la_LIBADD = @DISTLIBS_LIBS@ @top_builddir@/src/common/libdistrencommon.la @XML_LIBS@
-libdistren_la_CFLAGS = @DISTLIBS_CFLAGS@ -I@top_srcdir@/src/common @XML_CPPFLAGS@
+libdistren_la_LIBADD = @DISTLIBS_LIBS@ @top_builddir@/src/common/libdistrencommon.la
+libdistren_la_CFLAGS = @DISTLIBS_CFLAGS@ -I@top_srcdir@/src/common
 
 #see http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/autobook/autobook_91.html
 # either increase the revision number or the interface number each release!