diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8f891afd2..582947e48 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -168,6 +168,18 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CA_FILE, "$CA_FILE")
 not_asked=""
 not_found=""
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#                                  pkg-config
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+PKGCONFIG=""
+AC_CHECK_PROGS(PKGCONFIG, pkg-config)
+if test "x$PKGCONFIG" = "x"; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([
+*** "pkg-config" couldn't be found on your system.
+*** Try to install it with your software package manager.])
+fi
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                dynamic loader
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------