diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c14db9b..da40200 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ AC_CHECK_HEADER(gcrypt.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([unable to find the gcrypt.h header
 
 SAVE_LIBS=$LIBS
 
+libgnunetutil=0
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for libgnunetutil])
 AC_ARG_WITH(gnunet,
             [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-gnunet=PFX], [base of GNUnet installation])],