diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9c3ee9946..44dbda4eb 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ AC_HEADER_DIRENT
 AC_HEADER_STDC
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([fcntl.h stdlib.h string.h unistd.h])
 
+AC_CHECK_PROG(HAVE_LAUNCHD, [launchd], [yes], [])
+
 dnl Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
 AC_C_CONST
 AC_C_BIGENDIAN([ENDIAN="X_BIG_ENDIAN"], [ENDIAN="X_LITTLE_ENDIAN"])