diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c29d9baf2..6cbbeea7b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -443,6 +443,7 @@ test -n "$dbus_mount" && AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([HAVE_UDISKS_MOUNT], [1], [enable Ud
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_UDISKS_MOUNT], [test -n "$dbus_mount"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_EEZE_MOUNT], [test -n "$eeze_mount"])
 
+AC_CHECK_SIZEOF([void*])
 # verify "wayland-only" early to adapt dependencies
 
 have_wayland_only=no
@@ -841,6 +842,10 @@ if test "x${have_wayland}" = "xyes"; then
   fi
 fi
 
+if test "x${have_wayland}" = "xyes" && test "$ac_cv_sizeof_voidp" -ne 8 ; then
+   AC_MSG_ERROR([wayland support is only available for 64bit architectures])
+fi
+
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_WAYLAND], [test "x${have_wayland}" = "xyes"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_WAYLAND_ONLY], [test "x${have_wayland_only}" = "xyes"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_WAYLAND_CLIENTS], [test "x${have_wayland_clients}" = "xyes"])