diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5a26d97..2ea1dd0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether the compiler supports -fno-rtti -fno-exceptions])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([${have_cxx_flags}])
 CXXFLAGS="${CXXFLAGS_save}"
 if test "x${have_cxx_flags}" = "xyes" ; then
-   EXPEDITE_CXXFLAGS="-fno-rtti -fno-exceptions"
+   EXPEDITE_CXXFLAGS="-fno-rtti -fno-exceptions -DEFL_CXX_NO_EXCEPTIONS"
 fi
 CXXFLAGS="${CXXFLAGS} -std=c++11"