I posted a patch to fix this issue:
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-automake/2019-01/msg00002.html
Thanks Gavin. I hope Jim (Meyering) or I will install the patch soon,
although the timing of the next release is unknown at this point.
I'm just starting to get a grip on the development side of automake;
just trying to help since Jim doesn't have a lot of time right now and
all other am developers seem to have disappeared. (If you yourself have
any time/interest, help is greatly needed!) --best, karl.
