diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index d40ecfd87e..48a6f72a35 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -3490,3 +3490,9 @@ Charlie May 1 2008
     mac_installer/
         release_boinc.sh
         release_GridRepublic.sh
+
+Reinhard May 1 2008
+   - commented-out AM_MAINTAINER_MODE in configure.ac to *activate* all maintainer-mode
+   features by default
+
+   configure.ac
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1d2421a768..3605d08f54 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -134,7 +134,9 @@ AC_SUBST([BOINC_MINOR_VERSION])
 AC_SUBST([TOP_BUILD_DIR], [`pwd`])
 AC_SUBST([TOP_SOURCE_DIR], [`(cd \`dirname "$0"\` && pwd)`])
 
-AM_MAINTAINER_MODE
+## commented this out to turn all maintainer-mode features ON by default,
+## such as automatic reconfiguring on changes in Makefile.am's and configure.ac
+## AM_MAINTAINER_MODE
 
 dnl Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CC