diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 55ba1cd..cd5879a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@
   *)
     AC_MSG_RESULT([${host_os}])
     AX_PTHREAD([], [AC_MSG_ERROR([pthread is required to build $PACKAGE])])
-    AC_CHECK_FUNCS([pthread_cancel])
+    AC_CHECK_FUNC(pthread_cancel, [AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PTHREAD_CANCEL)], [
+        AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, [pthread_cancel],[AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PTHREAD_CANCEL)])
+    ])
     AC_CACHE_CHECK(for program_invocation_short_name, ac_cv_program_invocation_short_name,[
         AC_TRY_LINK([extern char* program_invocation_short_name;],[return program_invocation_short_name;],
             [ac_cv_program_invocation_short_name=yes],