diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libevent/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libevent/package.py
index 7969fb63d58..dc0c34191c8 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libevent/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libevent/package.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def libs(self):
         return LibraryList(libs)
 
     def autoreconf(self, spec, prefix):
-        Executable("./autogen.sh")()
+        autoreconf("--force", "--install", "--symlink")
 
     def configure_args(self):
         spec = self.spec