diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b6b7e2cc7..d593452d4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1393,6 +1393,9 @@ AC_CHECK_LIB([sha1], [sha1_begin], [HAVE_LIBSHA1=yes])
 if test "x$with_sha1" = x && test "x$HAVE_LIBSHA1" = xyes; then
    with_sha1=libsha1
 fi
+if test "x$with_sha1" = xlibsha1 && test "x$HAVE_LIBSHA1" != xyes; then
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([libsha1 requested but not found])
+fi
 if test "x$with_sha1" = xlibsha1; then
 	AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SHA1_IN_LIBSHA1], [1],
 	          [Use libsha1 for SHA1])
@@ -1402,6 +1405,9 @@ AC_CHECK_LIB([gcrypt], [gcry_md_open], [HAVE_LIBGCRYPT=yes])
 if test "x$with_sha1" = x && test "x$HAVE_LIBGCRYPT" = xyes; then
 	with_sha1=libgcrypt
 fi
+if test "x$with_sha1" = xlibgcrypt && test "x$HAVE_LIBGCRYPT" != xyes; then
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([libgcrypt requested but not found])
+fi
 if test "x$with_sha1" = xlibgcrypt; then
 	AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SHA1_IN_LIBGCRYPT], [1],
 	          [Use libgcrypt SHA1 functions])