I figured out how to get around the problem. So, I think this solution should be added to the PROBLEMS file. In fact, there is a similar problem for Solaris described, but no solution (well, no solution unless you know the trick, but then you probably wouldn't be reading PROBLEMS in the first place). Here's the original problem: *** Solaris 2.3 /bin/sh coredumps during configuration. This only occurs if you have LANG != C. This is a known bug with /bin/sh fixed by installing Patch-ID# 101613-01. Or, you can use bash, as a workaround. The last bit is great advice and would fix my problem as well, but it doesn't say how to do so! Let's extend that last sentence by adding the following hint: by setting the environment variable CONFIG_SHELL to /bin/bash In my case the problem description follows: *** Solaris 2.x configure fails: ./config.status: test: argument expected This is a known bug with /bin/sh and /bin/test, i.e. they do not support the XPG4 standard. You can use bash as a workaround or an XPG4-compliant Bourne shell such as the Sun-supplied /usr/xpg4/bin/sh by setting the environment variable CONFIG_SHELL to /usr/xpg4/bin/sh -- Rodney Sparapani Medical College of Wisconsin Sr. Biostatistician Patient Care & Outcomes Research rsparapa(a)mcw.edu http://www.mcw.edu/pcor Was 'Name That Tune' rigged? WWLD -- What Would Lombardi Do