diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1c1d76a2..4df900d9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ AC_INIT([rofi], [1.3.1], [https://github.com/DaveDavenport/rofi/],[],[https://fo
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([source/rofi.c])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 
-
 AC_PROG_LEX
 AC_PROG_YACC
 
+AS_IF([test "x${LEX}" != "xflex" ], [AC_MSG_ERROR( "Failed to find flex")])
+AS_IF([test "x${YACC}" != "xbison -y" ], [AC_MSG_ERROR( "Failed to find bison")])
+
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 dnl Setup automake to be silent and in foreign mode.
 dnl We want xz distribution