diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 365544b..51bc0f2 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES(SXPM, [x11 xt xext xextproto xproto >= 7.0.17],
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_SXPM, test x$build_sxpm = xtrue)
 
 # Internationalization & localization support
-AC_SEARCH_LIBS([gettext], [intl], [USE_GETTEXT="yes"], [USE_GETTEXT="no"])
+AC_ARG_WITH([gettext], AC_HELP_STRING([--with-gettext],
+    [Use gettext, default is no]),
+    [USE_GETTEXT=${withval}])
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([where to install localized messages])
 AC_ARG_WITH([localedir], AS_HELP_STRING([--with-localedir=<path>],
 	[Path to install message files in (default: datadir/locale)]),