diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8e59499..b37c8b6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -69,9 +69,14 @@ EFL_ENABLE_BETA_API_SUPPORT
 
 AC_HEADER_STDC
 AC_C_CONST
+AC_PROG_CC_C99
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 AC_C___ATTRIBUTE__
 
+if test "x${ac_cv_prog_cc_c99}" = "xno" ; then
+   AC_MSG_ERROR([expedite requires a c99-capable compiler])
+fi
+
 WIN32_CFLAGS=""
 case "$host_os" in
    cegcc*)