diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5ce2961..12b7b5d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1155,6 +1155,7 @@ require_cpp(){
 
 require_pkg_config(){
     pkg="$1"
+    "$pkg_config" != "false" || die "ERROR: pkg-config required to enable $pkg"
     check_pkg_config "$@" || die "ERROR: $pkg not found"
     add_cflags    $(get_safe ${pkg}_cflags)
     add_extralibs $(get_safe ${pkg}_libs)