diff --git a/ltmain.sh b/ltmain.sh
index 8bf1b20bc85201b36ac84861dd3a47d0d3c52cae..62b9ed17e3fce8ffd8af969234a22bc14dd5fcb6 100644
--- a/ltmain.sh
+++ b/ltmain.sh
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ EOF
   exit 0
 fi
 
+# libtool 1.4.2 workaround
+SED=${SED:-sed}
+
 # The name of this program.
 progname=`$echo "$0" | ${SED} 's%^.*/%%'`
 modename="$progname"