diff --git a/meta/guile.m4 b/meta/guile.m4
index 23c2c63bc..4978880a3 100644
--- a/meta/guile.m4
+++ b/meta/guile.m4
@@ -287,6 +287,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([GUILE_PROGS],
     else
       as_fn_error $? "Guile $_guile_required_version required, but $_guile_prog_version found" "$LINENO" 5
     fi
+  elif test "$GUILE_EFFECTIVE_VERSION" = "$_major_version.$_minor_version" -a -z "$_micro_version"; then
+    # Allow prereleases that have the right effective version.
+    true
   else
     AC_MSG_ERROR([Guile $_guile_required_version required, but $_guile_prog_version found])
   fi