diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index bd757582df..09992925b7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1904,7 +1904,11 @@ then
   AC_CHECK_HEADERS([DeckLinkAPIDispatch.cpp], [
       have_decklink=yes
   ], [
-      AC_MSG_WARN([Blackmagic DeckLink SDI include files not found, decklink disabled])
+      AS_IF([test "${enable_decklink}" = "yes"], [
+        AC_MSG_ERROR([Blackmagic DeckLink SDI include files not found!])
+      ], [
+        AC_MSG_WARN([Blackmagic DeckLink SDI include files not found, decklink disabled])
+      ])
   ])
   AC_LANG_POP([C++])
   VLC_RESTORE_FLAGS