diff --git a/README b/README
index b7b0db763e..8f1fe861f7 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ REQUIREMENTS:
         automake
         autoconf
         libtool
+        gperf
         make, gcc, and similar tools
 
         During runtime you need the following dependencies:
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9e195ed35c..fbd2ecb565 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ AC_PROG_GCC_TRADITIONAL
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(OBJCOPY, objcopy)
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(STRINGS, strings)
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(GPERF, gperf)
+if test -z "$GPERF" ; then
+        AC_MSG_ERROR([*** gperf not found])
+fi
 
 CC_CHECK_CFLAGS_APPEND([ \
         -pipe \