diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b4828c0..ae0a5e3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([glib], [glib-2.0 >= 2.26], [],
     [AC_MSG_ERROR([glib 2.26 or higher is required])])
 
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([expat], [expat >= 2.0.0], [],
-    [AC_MSG_ERROR([expat 2.0.0 or higher is required])])
+    [AC_CHECK_HEADER([expat.h],
+        [expat_LIBS="-lexpat"],
+        [AC_MSG_ERROR([expat 2.0.0 or higher is required])])])
 
 AC_CHECK_LIB([pthread], [main], [],
     [AC_MSG_ERROR([pthread is required])])