diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 0f788a9f..8734e422 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -492,8 +492,12 @@ dnl **
 if test "x$want_gc" = xyes; then
   if test "$glib_config_major_version" = "2"; then
     AC_CHECK_LIB(gc, GC_malloc, [
-      AC_DEFINE(HAVE_GC)
-      LIBS="$LIBS -lgc"
+      AC_CHECK_HEADER(gc/gc.h, [
+        AC_DEFINE(HAVE_GC)
+        LIBS="$LIBS -lgc"
+      ], [
+        want_gc=no
+      ])
     ], [
       want_gc=no
     ])