diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d6e681c..1e5d7a7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -61,11 +61,19 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([examples],
 AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_EXAMPLES], [test x"$build_examples" != xno])
 
 # Checks for libraries.
-AC_SEARCH_LIBS([utempter_remove_added_record], [utempter],
-  [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_UTEMPTER], [1],
-     [Define if libutempter is available.])],
-  [AC_MSG_WARN([Unable to find libutempter; utmp entries will not be made.])])
+AC_ARG_WITH([utempter],
+  [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-utempter], [write utmp entries using libutempter @<:@check@:>@])],
+  [with_utempter="$withval"],
+  [with_utempter="check"])
+AS_IF([test x"$with_utempter" != xno],
+  [AC_SEARCH_LIBS([utempter_remove_added_record], [utempter],
+    [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_UTEMPTER], [1], [Define if libutempter is available.])],
+    [AS_IF([test x"$with_utempter" = xcheck],
+      [AC_MSG_WARN([Unable to find libutempter; utmp entries will not be made.])],
+      [AC_MSG_ERROR([--with-utempter was given but libutempter was not found.])])])])
+
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([compress], [z], , [AC_MSG_ERROR([Unable to find zlib.])])
+
 AX_BOOST_BASE(, , [AC_MSG_ERROR([Unable to find boost libraries.])])
 
 AC_ARG_WITH([skalibs],