diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 7860bbc312..30aad233d1 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2021,6 +2021,12 @@ static THREAD int tls_var;
 int main(void) { return tls_var; }
 
 EOF
+  # check we support --no-pie first...
+  if compile_prog "-Werror -fno-pie" "-no-pie"; then
+    CFLAGS_NOPIE="-fno-pie"
+    LDFLAGS_NOPIE="-nopie"
+  fi
+
   if compile_prog "-fPIE -DPIE" "-pie"; then
     QEMU_CFLAGS="-fPIE -DPIE $QEMU_CFLAGS"
     LDFLAGS="-pie $LDFLAGS"
@@ -2036,11 +2042,6 @@ EOF
       pie="no"
     fi
   fi
-
-  if compile_prog "-Werror -fno-pie" "-nopie"; then
-    CFLAGS_NOPIE="-fno-pie"
-    LDFLAGS_NOPIE="-nopie"
-  fi
 fi
 
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