diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index f7fb898e..2764d7f3 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -334,7 +334,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([lua],
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_LUA, test x$want_lua = xyes)
 if test x$want_lua = xyes; then
 	PKG_CHECK_MODULES(LUA, lua >= 5.1, [ ],[
-		PKG_CHECK_MODULES(LUA51, lua5.1 >= 5.1, [ ])
+		PKG_CHECK_MODULES(LUA51, lua-5.1 >= 5.1, [ ],[
+			PKG_CHECK_MODULES(LUA51, lua5.1 >= 5.1)
+		])
 	])
 	CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $LUA_CFLAGS $LUA51_CFLAGS"
 	LIBS="$LIBS $LUA_LIBS $LUA51_LIBS"