diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b203944..dea63da 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([PHOSPHOR_DBUS_INTERFACES], [phosphor-dbus-interfaces])
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([PHOSPHOR_LOGGING], [phosphor-logging])
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([GPIOPLUS], [gpioplus])
+# We need the header only CLI library
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS(
+    [CLI/CLI.hpp],
+    [],
+    [AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find CLI11 CLI/CLI.hpp])]
+)
 AX_PTHREAD([], [AC_MSG_ERROR(["pthread required and not found"])])
 
 # Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.