diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 13ab718e31d77d36833421e3b093162e8d454e1e..4467f9b74c9751b03af1778ceb5bd47218947886 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ dnl
 dnl Verify pkg-config
 dnl
 PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
+if test "x$PKG_CONFIG" == "x"; then
+   AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find pkg-config utility!])
+fi
 
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([MARGO],[margo],[],
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find working margo installation!])])