diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fc243ae4..a5a768a6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ dnl Checks for libraries.
 
 dnl Thread related checks
 AC_CHECK_HEADER(pthread.h)
-AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, pthread_exit)
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS(pthread_exit, pthread)
 if test "x$ac_cv_lib_pthread_pthread_exit" = "xyes" -a "x$ac_cv_header_pthread_h" = "xyes"; then
     CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -D_REENTRANT"
     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -D_REENTRANT"