diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 7b3f5b4745..a33b6e6f0b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1827,6 +1827,11 @@ set_default cc nm pkg_config sysinclude
 enabled cross_compile || host_cc_default=$cc
 set_default host_cc
 
+if ! $pkg_config --version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    warn "$pkg_config not found, library detection may fail."
+    pkg_config=false
+fi
+
 exesuf() {
     case $1 in
         mingw32*|cygwin*|*-dos|freedos|opendos|os/2*|symbian) echo .exe ;;