autoupdate fails: undefined macro: m4_PACKAGE_VERSION

Running autoupdate on a clone of this repository https://github.com/wyatt8740/x48

results in this error:

~/x48$ autoupdate -d
autoupdate:1605289: working in /tmp/aufraZ4c
/usr/share/autoconf/autoconf/general.m4:327: error: m4_defn: undefined macro: m4_PACKAGE_VERSION
/usr/share/autoconf/autoconf/general.m4:327: the top level
autom4te: error: /usr/bin/m4 failed with exit status: 1
autoupdate: error: /usr/bin/autom4te failed with exit status: 1

I have tried several different things to define the macro in the file general.m4; obviously I am not using the correct syntax:

define (m4_PACKAGE_VERSION, 2.72)
m4_defn (m4_PACKAGE_VERSION, 2.72)
m4_define ([m4_PACKAGE_VERSION], 2.72)
m4_define ([m4_PACKAGE_VERSION], [2.72])

I have searched for references to m4_PACKAGE_VERSION and find nothing.  Anyone have ideas?

Thanks