diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index a2533dd6..05cac6ab 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([wlan],
 #
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_WLAN, test x$want_wlan = xyes)
 if test x$want_wlan = xyes; then
-	LIBS="$LIBS -liw"
+  AC_CHECK_HEADERS([iwlib.h], [], AC_MSG_ERROR([iwlib.h header not found]))
+  AC_CHECK_LIB([iw], [iw_sockets_open], [LIBS="$LIBS -liw"], AC_MSG_ERROR([iw_sockets_open not found]))
 	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_IWLIB, 1, [Define if you want wireless support])
 fi