diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 676985a0..99f57d81 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ dnl Check for required programs
 dnl ***********************************************************************
 AX_COMPILER_FLAGS_CXXFLAGS
 AC_PROG_CC
+AC_PROG_CXX
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AX_CXX_COMPILE_STDCXX_0X
 AC_PATH_PROG([GLIB_GENMARSHAL],[glib-genmarshal])