diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 917b321e..bf9993ca 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 
 # Checks for libraries.
-AC_CHECK_LIB([daemon],[daemon_log])
+AC_CHECK_LIB([daemon],[daemon_log], , AC_MSG_ERROR(libdaemon needed by Shairport 2.0!))
 
 # What follows is a bit messy, because if the relevant library is requested, a compiler flag is defined, a file is included in the compilation
 # and the relevant link files are added.