diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 96af298cc2..0c5b572341 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -586,7 +586,9 @@ dnl *** pango ***
 translit(dnm, m, l) AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_PANGO, true)
 AG_GST_CHECK_FEATURE(PANGO, [Pango font rendering], pango, [
   AG_GST_PKG_CHECK_MODULES(PANGO, pango pangocairo)
-  PKG_CHECK_MODULES(PANGOCAIRO_1_15_4, pangocairo >= 1.15.4, [ AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PANGO_VERTICAL_WRITING, 1, [Defined if pango can write vertically])])
+  PKG_CHECK_MODULES(PANGOCAIRO_1_15_4, pangocairo >= 1.15.4, [
+    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PANGO_VERTICAL_WRITING, 1, [Defined if pango can write vertically])
+  ], true)
 ])
 
 dnl *** theora ***