--- configure.in
+++ configure.in
@@ -465,9 +465,16 @@
 dnl * Ruby support                                   *
 dnl **************************************************

+AC_ARG_WITH(ruby, AC_HELP_STRING(--with-ruby, Enable support for ruby binding @<:@default=auto@:>@),
+            [ruby_required=true])

-AM_PATH_RUBY(,with_ruby=yes, with_ruby=no)
 if test x$with_ruby != xno; then
+    AM_PATH_RUBY(,with_ruby=yes, with_ruby=no)
+
+    if test x$with_ruby = xno && test x$ruby_required = xtrue; then
+       AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find ruby binary])
+    fi
+
     RUBY_ARCHDIR=`$RUBY -e 'require "rbconfig.rb"; puts Config::expand("\$(archdir)")'`
     RUBY_LIBRUBYARG=`$RUBY -e 'require "rbconfig.rb"; puts Config::expand("\$(LIBRUBYARG)")'`