diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 4b4323f73..344699227 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -281,8 +281,8 @@ AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(ptrdiff_t)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(size_t)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(off_t)
 
-if test "$ac_cv_sizeof_long" -ne "$ac_cv_sizeof_void_p"; then
-  AC_MSG_ERROR(sizes of long and void* are not identical)
+if test "$ac_cv_sizeof_long" -gt "$ac_cv_sizeof_void_p"; then
+  AC_MSG_ERROR(long does not fit into a void*)
 fi
 
 if test "$ac_cv_sizeof_ptrdiff_t" -ne 0; then