diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index 287e18b515..9a483bbcd0 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -2138,6 +2138,8 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(alsa,
      then
        PLUGINS="${PLUGINS} alsa"
        LDFLAGS_alsa="${LDFLAGS_alsa} -lasound -lm -ldl"
+     else
+       AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find ALSA development headers])
      fi
    fi])