diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index f7ebd5fb0..f97d0eece 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -66,6 +66,46 @@ if test "$enableval" != no; then
 fi
 ])
 
+AC_PATH_PROG(NROFF, nroff)
+AC_PATH_PROG(GROFF, groff)
+AC_CACHE_CHECK(how to format man pages,ac_cv_sys_man_format,
+[cat > conftest.1 << END
+.Dd January 1, 1970
+.Dt CONFTEST 1
+.Sh NAME
+.Nm conftest
+.Nd
+foobar
+END
+if test "$NROFF" && \
+	"$NROFF" -mandoc conftest.1 2> /dev/null | \
+	grep Jan > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ac_cv_sys_man_format="$NROFF -mandoc \$< > \$@"
+elif test "$GROFF" && \
+	"$GROFF" -mandoc -Tascii conftest.1 2>/dev/null | \
+	grep Jan > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ac_cv_sys_man_format="$GROFF -mandoc -Tascii \$< > \$@"
+fi
+])
+if test "$ac_cv_sys_man_format"; then
+	CATMAN="$ac_cv_sys_man_format"
+	AC_SUBST(CATMAN)
+fi
+AM_CONDITIONAL(CATMAN, test "$CATMAN")
+AC_CACHE_CHECK(extension of pre-formatted manual pages,ac_cv_sys_catman_ext,
+if grep _suffix /etc/man.conf > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ac_cv_sys_catman_ext=0
+else
+	ac_cv_sys_catman_ext=number
+fi
+)
+if test "$ac_cv_sys_catman_ext" = number; then
+	CATMANEXT='$$section'
+else
+	CATMANEXT=0
+fi
+AC_SUBST(CATMANEXT)
+
 AC_TEST_PACKAGE(readline,readline.h,libreadline.a,-lreadline)
 
 AC_C_BIGENDIAN