diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 561d264..f7200bc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ AC_TYPE_UINT64_T
 AC_TYPE_UINT8_T
 AC_CHECK_TYPES([ptrdiff_t])
 
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([FUSE], [fuse3 >= 3.2.1], [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_FUSE], 1, [Define if libfuse is available])], [ ])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([FUSE], [fuse3 >= 3.2.1], [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_FUSE], 1, [Define if libfuse is available])], [AC_MSG_ERROR([*** libfuse not found])]])
 
 AC_FUNC_ERROR_AT_LINE
 AC_FUNC_MALLOC