diff --git a/gnu/packages/autotools.scm b/gnu/packages/autotools.scm
index 472af47e0c3..b1efe3a11a0 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/autotools.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/autotools.scm
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ know anything about Autoconf or M4.")
        (base32
         "0niz4852fgyavfh3gr4h4kzalk01nk70v6vfsja6r3ap349mr25s"))))))
 
-(define-public autoconf autoconf-2.69)
+(define-public autoconf autoconf-2.72)
 
 (define-public autoconf-2.68
   (package (inherit autoconf)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/dbm.scm b/gnu/packages/dbm.scm
index 97b2bded461..0b32b62909d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/dbm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/dbm.scm
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
                      (("rm (.*) configure") "")
                      (("chmod (.*) config.guess(.*)$") ""))
                    (invoke "sh" "s_config"))))))
-    (native-inputs (list autoconf automake-1.16.5 libtool))
+    (native-inputs (list autoconf-2.69 automake-1.16.5 libtool))
     (synopsis "Berkeley database")
     (description
      "Berkeley DB is an embeddable database allowing developers the choice of