diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6a5ddae7..a7a29b32 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([xcb_icccm], [xcb-icccm],,
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires xcb-icccm.])])
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([cairo_xcb], [cairo-xcb],,
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires cairo-xcb.])])
+AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, pthread_create)
 
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_PATH_X