diff --git a/check-deps/__have_libelf.c b/check-deps/__have_libelf.c
index bf7a9ec80..66ee1fec8 100644
--- a/check-deps/__have_libelf.c
+++ b/check-deps/__have_libelf.c
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@
 
 int main(void)
 {
-	GElf_Ehdr ehdr;
+      Elf *elf;
 
-	elf_version(EV_CURRENT);
-	return 0;
+      elf_version(EV_CURRENT);
+
+      /* check that the gelf function */
+      elf = elf_begin(0, ELF_C_READ, NULL);
+      gelf_checksum(elf);
+      elf_end(elf);
+
+      return 0;
 }