diff --git a/configure b/configure
index dbcada5385d915d5a4e366d027cb1545dd0587c1..e86f193738d405a53591148d2c20f2aa601fe6af 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -3270,7 +3270,7 @@ SLIB_CREATE_DEF_CMD=${SLIB_CREATE_DEF_CMD}
 SLIB_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_EXTRA_CMD}
 SLIB_INSTALL_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_INSTALL_EXTRA_CMD}
 SLIB_UNINSTALL_EXTRA_CMD=${SLIB_UNINSTALL_EXTRA_CMD}
-SAMPLES=${samples:-\$(FATE_SAMPLES)}
+SAMPLES:=${samples:-\$(FATE_SAMPLES)}
 EOF
 
 get_version(){