diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 626e6b13..92a45809 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ AC_SEARCH_LIBS([inet_aton], [resolv])
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([clock_gettime], [rt])
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([sendfile], [sendfile])
 
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS([zlib.h])
+
+if test "x$ac_cv_header_zlib_h" = "xyes"; then
 dnl Determine if we have zlib for regression tests
 dnl Don't put this one in LIBS
 save_LIBS="$LIBS"
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@ AC_SEARCH_LIBS([inflateEnd], [z],
 	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_LIBZ, 1, [Define if the system has zlib])])
 LIBS="$save_LIBS"
 AC_SUBST(ZLIB_LIBS)
+fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ZLIB_REGRESS, [test "$have_zlib" = "yes"])
 
 dnl See if we have openssl.  This doesn't go in LIBS either.