diff --git a/scripts/ax_execinfo.m4 b/scripts/ax_execinfo.m4
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ax_execinfo.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# ===========================================================================
+#       https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_execinfo.html
+# ===========================================================================
+#
+# SYNOPSIS
+#
+#   AX_EXECINFO([ACTION-IF-EXECINFO-H-IS-FOUND], [ACTION-IF-EXECINFO-H-IS-NOT-FOUND], [ADDITIONAL-TYPES-LIST])
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#
+#   Checks for execinfo.h header and if the len parameter/return type can be
+#   found from a list, also define backtrace_size_t to that type.
+#
+#   By default the list of types to try contains int and size_t, but should
+#   some yet undiscovered system use e.g. unsigned, the 3rd argument can be
+#   used for extensions. I'd like to hear of further suggestions.
+#
+#   Executes ACTION-IF-EXECINFO-H-IS-FOUND when present and the execinfo.h
+#   header is found or ACTION-IF-EXECINFO-H-IS-NOT-FOUND in case the header
+#   seems unavailable.
+#
+#   Also adds -lexecinfo to LIBS on BSD if needed.
+#
+# LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright (c) 2014 Thomas Jahns <jahns@dkrz.de>
+#
+#   Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are
+#   permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice
+#   and this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, without any
+#   warranty.
+
+#serial 2
+
+AC_DEFUN([AX_EXECINFO],
+  [AC_CHECK_HEADERS([execinfo.h])
+   AS_IF([test x"$ac_cv_header_execinfo_h" = xyes],
+     [AC_CACHE_CHECK([size parameter type for backtrace()],
+	[ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type],
+	[AC_LANG_PUSH([C])
+	 for ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type in size_t int m4_ifnblank([$3],[$3 ])none; do
+	   AS_IF([test "${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type}" = none],
+	     [ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type= ; break])
+	   AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([
+#include <execinfo.h>
+extern
+${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type} backtrace(void **addrlist, ${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type} len);
+char **backtrace_symbols(void *const *buffer, ${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type} size);
+])],
+	   [break])
+	 done
+	 AC_LANG_POP([C])])])
+   AS_IF([test x${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type} != x],
+     [AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([backtrace_size_t], [$ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type],
+        [Defined to return type of backtrace().])])
+   AC_SEARCH_LIBS([backtrace],[execinfo])
+   AS_IF([test x"${ax_cv_proto_backtrace_type}" != x -a x"$ac_cv_header_execinfo_h" = xyes -a x"$ac_cv_search_backtrace" != xno],
+     [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_BACKTRACE],[1],
+        [Defined if backtrace() could be fully identified.])
+     ]m4_ifnblank([$1],[$1
+]),m4_ifnblank([$2],[$2
+]))])
+dnl
+dnl Local Variables:
+dnl mode: autoconf
+dnl End:
+dnl