diff --git a/m4/libshout.m4 b/m4/libshout.m4
index 90c8583..c25f5e4 100644
--- a/m4/libshout.m4
+++ b/m4/libshout.m4
@@ -148,9 +148,11 @@ if test -z "${PKG_CONFIG}"; then
 	AC_MSG_ERROR([The pkg-config utility is required.], [1])
 fi
 
-dnl ####### BEGIN CHECK ######
-PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([shout $1], [
-dnl ##########################
+if test -n "$1" -a x"${ax_check_libshout_shout_pc}" = "xyes"; then
+	PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([shout $1], [],
+		[AC_MSG_ERROR([libshout version $1 is required.], [1])]
+	)
+fi
 
 libshout_libs_autodetect=no
 if test -z "${LIBSHOUT_LIBS}"; then
@@ -202,10 +204,6 @@ LDFLAGS="${ax_check_libshout_save_LDFLAGS}"
 LIBS="${ax_check_libshout_save_LIBS}"
 AC_LANG_POP([C])
 
-dnl ####### END CHECK ########
-], [])
-dnl ##########################
-
 fi						# want_libshout != no
 
 ])