diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 382cb72..4ee8717 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 [AC_MSG_ERROR([The openbmc/sdbusplus package is required])])
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([PHOSPHOR_LOGGING], [phosphor-logging], ,
 [AC_MSG_ERROR([The openbmc/phosphor-logging package is required])])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SYSTEMD], [libsystemd >= 221], ,
+[AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find systemd...systemd developement package required])])
 
 # Checks for library functions.
 LT_INIT # Required for systemd linking