diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ad4f1c5be..84173758e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ if test "x${alsa}" != xno ; then
         [
             HAVE_ALSA=0
             if test "x$alsa" = xyes ; then
-                AC_MSG_ERROR([*** ALSA support not found])
+                AC_MSG_ERROR([*** Needed alsa >= 1.0.17 support not found])
             fi
         ])
 else