diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ba80f1c5577b27a2dc8a322018cf9f5421f0a18a..365b3613ed2cce893d8562ed3977335c2dede920 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -715,6 +715,23 @@ else
    nptl="no"
 fi
 
+##########################################
+# zlib check
+
+cat > $TMPC << EOF
+#include <zlib.h>
+int main(void) { zlibVersion(); return 0; }
+EOF
+if $cc $CFLAGS $LDFLAGS -o $TMPE $TMPC -lz 2> /dev/null ; then
+    :
+else
+    echo
+    echo "Error: zlib check failed"
+    echo "Make sure to have the zlib libs and headers installed."
+    echo
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 ##########################################
 # SDL probe