--- configure.ac
+++ configure.ac
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
+dnl Check for libm for exp()
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS([exp], [m], [], [
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([unable to find the exp() function])
+])
+
 #################
 ### texi2html ###
 #################