diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 44f28e2d..1282e2fd 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -213,9 +213,6 @@ case "$host_os" in
   hpux*)
     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED"
     ;;
-  irix*)
-    skip_extralibs=true
-    ;;
   *)
     ;;
 esac
@@ -223,15 +220,17 @@ esac
 
 AC_CHECK_FUNCS(mkfifo fcntl)
 
-if test "x$skip_extralibs" != "xtrue"; then
+AC_CHECK_FUNC(socket, [], [
 	AC_CHECK_LIB(socket, socket, [
 		LIBS="$LIBS -lsocket"
 	])
+])
 
+AC_CHECK_FUNC(inet_addr, [], [
 	AC_CHECK_LIB(nsl, inet_addr, [
 		LIBS="$LIBS -lnsl"
 	], -lsocket)
-fi
+])
 
 dnl * gcc specific options
 if test "x$ac_cv_prog_gcc" = "xyes"; then