--- automake.in
+++ automake.in
@@ -7146,12 +7146,14 @@
       my $fullfile = "$dir/$file";
       my $found_it = 0;
       my $dangling_sym = 0;
+      my $thisdir = dirname ($fullfile);
+      my $thisfile = basename ($fullfile);
 
       if (-l $fullfile && ! -f $fullfile)
 	{
 	  $dangling_sym = 1;
 	}
-      elsif (dir_has_case_matching_file ($dir, $file))
+      elsif (dir_has_case_matching_file ($thisdir, $thisfile))
 	{
 	  $found_it = 1;
 	  maybe_push_required_file ($dir, $file, $fullfile);