diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d0d352e1c1..ffc86cbd4a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -784,6 +784,9 @@ AG_GST_CHECK_FEATURE(MFC, [Multi Format Codec], mfc, [
 #endif
 #if defined(V4L2_MAJOR_VERSION) || defined(V4L2_MINOR_VERSION)
 #error too early v4l2 version or no v4l2 at all
+#endif
+#if !defined(V4L2_PIX_FMT_H264)
+#error v4l2 version too old
 #endif
     ]], [[
 return 0;