diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8c63165..ad0fba7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fi
 
 LIBS="$LIBS $LEXLIB"
 
-AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, pthread_create, [PTHREAD_CFLAGS+=-lpthread])
+AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, pthread_create, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([need pthreads])])
 
 AC_CHECK_PROGS(YACC, 'bison -y' byacc yacc)
 if test -z "$YACC"; then
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ AC_PATH_PROG(MAKEDEPEND, makedepend)
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([how to generate dependency info])
 
 if test "$ac_cv_c_compiler_gnu" = yes; then
-  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall -Wno-unused $PTHREAD_CFLAGS"
+  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall -Wno-unused"
   MKDEP="$CC -MM"
   MKDEP_DIRECT="> .depend"
   AC_MSG_RESULT(gcc)