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.