diff --git a/M2/BUILD/docker/fedora/Makefile b/M2/BUILD/docker/fedora/Makefile
index 7ebbe94390..36fdab4bfc 100644
--- a/M2/BUILD/docker/fedora/Makefile
+++ b/M2/BUILD/docker/fedora/Makefile
@@ -10,3 +10,24 @@ BUILD_OPT = -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
 rpm:;       docker run $(VOLUME) -it --entrypoint "" $(TAG) bash -c "cd M2/$(BUILD_DIR); cpack -G RPM"
 
 rpmlint:;   docker run $(VOLUME) -it --entrypoint "" $(TAG) bash -c "rpmlint M2/$(BUILD_DIR)/Macaulay2-*.rpm"
+
+## autotools build
+## TODO: generalize this to other distros, move to toplevel Makefile
+
+CONFIG_OPT = --with-system-gc --with-system-memtailor --with-system-mathic \
+	--with-system-mathicgb --enable-download --enable-rpm --prefix=/usr
+
+define M2_BUILD_SCRIPT_autotools
+set -xe
+
+mkdir -p M2/$(BUILD_DIR)
+cd M2/$(BUILD_DIR)
+$(M2_HOME)/M2/M2/autogen.sh
+$(M2_HOME)/M2/M2/configure $(CONFIG_OPT)
+make
+endef
+export M2_BUILD_SCRIPT_autotools
+
+build-autotools: build-image
+	docker run $(VOLUME) -it --entrypoint="" $(TAG) \
+		bash -c "$$M2_BUILD_SCRIPT_autotools"