diff --git a/ac/ax_boost_base.m4 b/ac/ax_boost_base.m4
index 4d92a62c7..873d12b6c 100644
--- a/ac/ax_boost_base.m4
+++ b/ac/ax_boost_base.m4
@@ -84,12 +84,20 @@ if test "x$want_boost" = "xyes"; then
     dnl this location ist chosen if boost libraries are installed with the --layout=system option
     dnl or if you install boost with RPM
     if test "$ac_boost_path" != ""; then
-        BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path/lib"
+        if test "`uname -m`" = "x86_64" && test -d "$ac_boost_path/lib64" ; then
+            BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path/lib64"
+        else
+            BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path/lib"
+        fi
         BOOST_CPPFLAGS="-I$ac_boost_path/include"
     else
         for ac_boost_path_tmp in /usr /usr/local /opt /opt/local ; do
             if test -d "$ac_boost_path_tmp/include/boost" && test -r "$ac_boost_path_tmp/include/boost"; then
-                BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path_tmp/lib"
+                if test "`uname -m`" = "x86_64" && test -d "$ac_boost_path_tmp/lib64" ; then
+                    BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path_tmp/lib64"
+                else
+                    BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_boost_path_tmp/lib"
+                fi
                 BOOST_CPPFLAGS="-I$ac_boost_path_tmp/include"
                 break;
             fi
@@ -163,7 +171,11 @@ if test "x$want_boost" = "xyes"; then
             BOOST_CPPFLAGS="-I$best_path/include/boost-$VERSION_UNDERSCORE"
             if test "$ac_boost_lib_path" = ""
             then
-               BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$best_path/lib"
+                if test "`uname -m`" = "x86_64" && test -d "$best_path/lib64" ; then
+                    BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$best_path/lib64"
+                else
+                    BOOST_LDFLAGS="-L$best_path/lib"
+                fi
             fi
 
                 if test "x$BOOST_ROOT" != "x"; then