diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 2e433c04f1..b72951bd63 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -646,6 +646,7 @@ HAVE_LIST="
     sdl
     sdl_video_size
     soundcard_h
+    ssse3
     sys_poll_h
     sys_soundcard_h
     threads
@@ -1447,6 +1448,13 @@ EOF
 int main(){
     asm volatile ("":::"%ebx");
 }
+EOF
+
+    # check whether binutils is new enough to compile SSSE3
+    check_cc <<EOF && enable ssse3
+int main(){
+    asm volatile ("pabsw %xmm0, %xmm0");
+}
 EOF
 fi