diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 124728ff..68a92eb8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CONFIGDIR, "/etc/iwd", [Configuration directory])
 
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS(linux/types.h linux/if_alg.h)
 
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS(readline/readline.h, enable_readline=yes,
+			AC_MSG_ERROR(readline header files are required))
+
 AC_PATH_PROG(A2X, [a2x], [], $PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_DOCS, test "$A2X" != "")