diff --git a/src/configure b/src/configure
index c450b00c76..3656ee4b0e 100755
--- a/src/configure
+++ b/src/configure
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ starts 'checking host system type...'
 **************************************************************
 EOT
 	TEMPLATE=generic
-	GUESS=`grep $host_os template/.similar 2>/dev/null`
+	GUESS=`grep "$host_os=" template/.similar 2>/dev/null`
 	if test $GUESS
 	then
 		TEMPLATE=`echo $GUESS | sed 's/.*=//'`
diff --git a/src/configure.in b/src/configure.in
index 664c0f6a87..eb2c8b184f 100644
--- a/src/configure.in
+++ b/src/configure.in
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ starts 'checking host system type...'
 **************************************************************
 EOT
 	TEMPLATE=generic
-	GUESS=`grep $host_os template/.similar 2>/dev/null`
+	GUESS=`grep "$host_os=" template/.similar 2>/dev/null`
 	if test $GUESS
 	then
 		TEMPLATE=`echo $GUESS | sed 's/.*=//'`