diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a3a8be4..0e05e66 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -131,8 +131,11 @@
 if grep -q "#define HAVE_SQLITE3" confdefs.h ; then
   AC_CHECK_LIB([sqlite3], [sqlite3_open], [ ], # space necessar to prevent updating LIBS
                [AC_MSG_FAILURE([have sqlite2 headers but no libsqlite3])])
+else
+  AC_MSG_ERROR(Missing required libsqlite3 library)
 fi
 
+
 # Conditionally use the OSX Security framework .
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for OSX Security framework])
 AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM(