diff --git a/Makefile.tool.am b/Makefile.tool.am
index e48ca6b5f..883e21ae8 100644
--- a/Makefile.tool.am
+++ b/Makefile.tool.am
@@ -53,32 +53,38 @@ COREGRIND_LIBS_PPC64_AIX5 = \
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_x86_linux.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR)" \
 	libvex_x86_linux.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_X86_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_X86_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_amd64_linux.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR)" \
 	libvex_amd64_linux.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_AMD64_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_AMD64_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_ppc32_linux.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR)" \
 	libvex_ppc32_linux.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC32_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC32_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_ppc64_linux.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR)" \
 	libvex_ppc64_linux.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC64_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC64_LINUX) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_ppc32_aix5.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR) -X32" \
 	libvex_ppc32_aix5.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC32_AIX5) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC32_AIX5) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/libvex_ppc64_aix5.a: @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" AR="$(AR) -X64" \
 	libvex_ppc64_aix5.a \
-	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC64_AIX5) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@"
+	EXTRA_CFLAGS="$(AM_CFLAGS_PPC64_AIX5) @FLAG_WDECL_AFTER_STMT@ \
+			@FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR@"
 
 @VEX_DIR@/priv/main/vex_svnversion.h:
 	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" version
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 9b10fd615..44ef57a15 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -706,6 +706,33 @@ if test x$declaration_after_statement = xyes; then
 fi
 
 
+# does this compiler support -fno-stack-protector ?
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([if gcc accepts -fno-stack-protector ])
+
+safe_CFLAGS=$CFLAGS
+CFLAGS="-fno-stack-protector"
+
+AC_TRY_COMPILE(, [
+int main () { return 0 ; }
+],
+[
+no_stack_protector=yes
+FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR="-fno-stack-protector"
+AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+], [
+no_stack_protector=no
+FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR=""
+AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+])
+CFLAGS=$safe_CFLAGS
+
+AC_SUBST(FLAG_FNO_STACK_PROTECTOR)
+
+if test x$no_stack_protector = xyes; then
+  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -fno-stack-protector"
+fi
+
+
 # does this compiler support __builtin_expect?
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([if gcc supports __builtin_expect])