diff -Nuar a/configure.ac b/configure.ac --- a/configure.ac 2014-10-25 17:09:35.000000000 +0200 +++ b/configure.ac 2014-11-26 16:42:50.229999426 +0100 @@ -335,7 +335,9 @@ if test x$vifm_cv_curses = x/usr -a -d /usr/include/${curses_lib_name}; then CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -I/usr/include/${curses_lib_name}" fi - ncurses_found=yes]) + ncurses_found=yes] + AC_SEARCH_LIBS([curs_set], [tinfo],, + AC_MSG_ERROR(could not find a library providing curs_set))) dnl If libncursesw is not found on OS X, check for libncurses. On OS X it has dnl support of wide characters. if test -n "$OSX_HOST" -a "x$ncurses_found" != "xyes"; then