--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -4,14 +4,6 @@
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
-AC_CHECK_LIB(ncurses, tgetnum,,
-[
-	echo "The required library ncurses not found - aborting."
-	exit
-],)
-AC_CHECK_LIB(readline, tputs,,
-[
-	echo "The required library readline not found - aborting."
-	exit
-],)
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS([tgetnum], [ncurses tinfo], , AC_MSG_ERROR([need ncurses]), [])
+AC_CHECK_LIB(readline, tputs, , AC_MSG_ERROR([need readline]), [])
 AC_OUTPUT(Makefile)