diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9b76b65..3c010e4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ if test x$DRI = xauto; then
 fi
 AC_MSG_RESULT([$DRI])
 
+AC_CHECK_HEADER(GL/gl.h, , AC_MSG_ERROR(Need the OpenGL core header: GL/gl.h))
+
 save_CFLAGS="$CFLAGS"
 CFLAGS="$XORG_CFLAGS"
 AC_CHECK_HEADER(xf86Modes.h,[XMODES=yes],[XMODES=no],[#include "xorg-server.h"])