diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fc5cd708604188ab867120a11431b77e2d8cf7dc..21ee9fa435d3131f34ce6c8a5cf62c86cf27439d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_C_INLINE
 AC_PROG_CPP
 AC_PROG_F77
+AC_PROG_CXX
 
 AC_PATH_PROG([CPP], [cpp], [], [/usr/bin:/lib:$PATH])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([CPP],["$CPP"],["Command which runs the C preprecessor"])