diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b975f19..c77b175 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ AC_CHECK_LIB(uuid, uuid_generate, , AC_MSG_WARN(libuuid could not be found))
 UUID_LIBS="$LIBS"
 AC_SUBST(UUID_LIBS)
 
-AC_CHECK_LIB(com_err, _et_list, , AC_MSG_WARN(libcom_err could not be found))
+AC_CHECK_LIB(com_err, _et_list, , AC_MSG_ERROR(libcom_err could not be found))
 COM_ERR_LIBS="$LIBS"
 AC_SUBST(COM_ERR_LIBS)