diff --git a/config/autoconf.mk.in b/config/autoconf.mk.in
index 45c8854ee95f..1c0df85e8f48 100644
--- a/config/autoconf.mk.in
+++ b/config/autoconf.mk.in
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ JAVA_INCLUDE_PATH=@JAVA_INCLUDE_PATH@
 JAVAC=@JAVAC@
 JAR=@JAR@
 
+TAR=@TAR@
+
 # The MOZ_UI_LOCALE var is used to build a particular locale. Do *not*
 # use the var to change any binary files. Do *not* use this var unless you
 # write rules for the "clean-locale" and "locale" targets.
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 242e7128411a..ee47cb6caad5 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -5467,6 +5467,14 @@ if test -z "$MOZ_XPINSTALL"; then
 fi
 AC_SUBST(MOZ_INSTALLER)
 
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for tar archiver])
+AC_CHECK_PROGS(TAR, gnutar gtar tar, "")
+if test -z "$TAR"; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([no tar archiver found in \$PATH])
+fi
+AC_MSG_RESULT([$TAR])
+AC_SUBST(TAR)
+
 dnl ========================================================
 dnl Updater
 dnl ========================================================
diff --git a/toolkit/mozapps/installer/packager.mk b/toolkit/mozapps/installer/packager.mk
index ba685d1db845..a89daf02e552 100644
--- a/toolkit/mozapps/installer/packager.mk
+++ b/toolkit/mozapps/installer/packager.mk
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ PACKAGE       = $(PKG_BASENAME)$(PKG_SUFFIX)
 
 MAKE_PACKAGE	= $(error What is a $(MOZ_PKG_FORMAT) package format?);
 
-CREATE_FINAL_TAR = tar -c --owner=0 --group=0 --numeric-owner --mode="go-w" -f
+CREATE_FINAL_TAR = $(TAR) -c --owner=0 --group=0 --numeric-owner \
+  --mode="go-w" -f
 UNPACK_TAR       = tar -x
 
 ifeq ($(MOZ_PKG_FORMAT),TAR)