diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b454ac515..cedc34e52 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ BITCOIN_QT_INIT
 
 if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
 
-  if test x$PKG_CONFIG == x; then
+  if test x"$PKG_CONFIG" == "x"; then
     AC_MSG_ERROR(pkg-config not found.)
   fi
 
diff --git a/src/m4/bitcoin_qt.m4 b/src/m4/bitcoin_qt.m4
index 3499a09b7..9356aac37 100644
--- a/src/m4/bitcoin_qt.m4
+++ b/src/m4/bitcoin_qt.m4
@@ -86,9 +86,6 @@ AC_DEFUN([BITCOIN_QT_CONFIGURE],[
   fi
 
   if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
-    if test x$PKG_CONFIG == x; then
-      AC_MSG_ERROR(pkg-config not found.)
-    fi
     BITCOIN_QT_CHECK([_BITCOIN_QT_FIND_LIBS_WITH_PKGCONFIG([$2])])
   else
     BITCOIN_QT_CHECK([_BITCOIN_QT_FIND_LIBS_WITHOUT_PKGCONFIG])