diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 8ab0fe9a1..2cde56739 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ AM_PROG_CC_STDC
 
 AC_C_CONST
 AC_C_INLINE
+AC_C_BIGENDIAN
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(int)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(long)
 AC_CACHE_CHECK([for long longs], scm_cv_long_longs,