diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e1709bc3..78127b34 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ AC_PROG_CXX
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 AC_PROG_AWK
+dnl Check for pkg-config early to avoid splitting message when first used.
+PKG_CHECK_EXISTS
 
 
 dnl======================