diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index eee10df..cd3e78a 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -39,6 +39,16 @@ else
     fi
 fi
 
+# due to restriction on Max OSX: max version is 65535.255.255
+while test $LEAST -gt 255; do
+      LEAST=$((LEAST-255))
+      MINOR=$((MINOR+1))
+done
+while test $MINOR -gt 255; do
+      MINOR=$((MINOR-255))
+      MAJOR=$((MAJOR+1))
+done
+
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE($PACKAGENAME, $MAJOR.$MINOR.$LEAST, [marc@waeckerlin.org])
 
 # files to create