diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f076b5a..2bf380f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10,9 +10,14 @@ AC_SUBST(PACKAGE)
 AC_SUBST(VERSION)
 
 AC_USE_SYSTEM_EXTENSIONS
+
 AC_PROG_CC
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-std=gnu11], [CFLAGS+=" -std=gnu11"],
+    [C compiler does not support C11 with GNU extensions])
+
 AM_PROG_AR
 
+
 AC_PATH_PROG([REBOOT], [reboot])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([REBOOT], "$REBOOT",
     [path to the reboot command])