diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3397f03a2..47204e9b8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -270,7 +270,9 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL([LINK_SYSTEM_SECP256K1], [test "x$with_system_secp256k1" != xno])
 AM_COND_IF([LINK_SYSTEM_SECP256K1], [
     dnl Use the secp installed system-wide (after checking it for suitability)
     saved_LIBS=$LIBS
-    PKG_CHECK_MODULES([libsecp256k1], [$with_system_secp256k1])
+    m4_ifdef([PKG_CHECK_MODULES],
+        [PKG_CHECK_MODULES([libsecp256k1], [$with_system_secp256k1])],
+        [AC_MSG_ERROR([You need to install pkg-config to use --with-system-secp256k1.])])
     LIBS="$libsecp256k1_LIBS $LIBS"
     missing_modules=
     AC_DEFUN([CHECK_MODULE], [