diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 71039dcb..d0f6ee14 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 # threading
-ACX_PTHREAD
+ACX_PTHREAD([], [AC_MSG_ERROR([pthread is required])])
 LIBS="$PTHREAD_LIBS $LIBS"
 CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $PTHREAD_CFLAGS"
 AS_IF([test "x$PTHREAD_CC" != x], [ CC="$PTHREAD_CC" ])