diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b5b638af6..8976319ec 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ if test "x$with_sha1" = xlibmd; then
 	          [Use libmd SHA1 functions])
 	SHA1_LIBS=-lmd
 fi
-AC_CHECK_LIB([sha1], [sha1_begin], [HAVE_LIBSHA1=yes])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([LIBSHA1], [sha1], [HAVE_LIBSHA1=yes], [HAVE_LIBSHA1=no])
 if test "x$with_sha1" = x && test "x$HAVE_LIBSHA1" = xyes; then
    with_sha1=libsha1
 fi