diff --git a/m4/hooks.m4 b/m4/hooks.m4
index e026dd1..cf6064c 100644
--- a/m4/hooks.m4
+++ b/m4/hooks.m4
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ AC_MSG_ERROR([[
       mini_nettle=$withval,
       mini_nettle=no)
 
+  PKG_CHECK_MODULES(GMP, [gmp], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([[gmp is required]])])
   AC_ARG_VAR(GMP_CFLAGS, [C compiler flags for gmp])
   AC_ARG_VAR(GMP_LIBS, [linker flags for gmp])
   if test "$mini_nettle" != no;then