diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 91af417098..8d1971b79a 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ if ! ${PKG_CONFIG} --exists --print-errors " libkmod >= 23 "; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+if ! command -v "${CC}" > /dev/null; then
+    echo "dracut needs a C compiler (${CC} not found)." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 cat << EOF > conftest.c
 #include <fts.h>
 int main() {