diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fac333daa6..1b65c1f67d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -296,6 +296,10 @@ AC_CHECK_DECLS([OMX_VIDEO_CodingHEVC],
   ], [[$VIDEO_HEADERS]])
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_HEVC, test "x$HAVE_HEVC" = "xyes")
 
+if test "x$ac_cv_omx_target" = "xzynqultrascaleplus"; then
+    AC_CHECK_HEADER([OMX_Allegro.h], [], [AC_ERROR([Need Allegro OMX headers to build for Zynq UltraScale+. Use --with-omx-header-path= argument to specify the path of those headers.])], [AC_INCLUDES_DEFAULT])
+fi
+
 dnl *** set variables based on configure arguments ***
 
 dnl set license and copyright notice
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5c6425bace..6656dbc0b4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -267,6 +267,13 @@ elif omx_target == 'bellagio'
   cdata.set('USE_OMX_TARGET_BELLAGIO', 1)
 elif omx_target == 'zynqultrascaleplus'
   cdata.set('USE_OMX_TARGET_ZYNQ_USCALE_PLUS', 1)
+  have_allegro_header = cc.has_header (
+      'OMX_Allegro.h',
+      args : gst_omx_args,
+      required : false)
+  if not have_allegro_header
+    error ('Need Allegro OMX headers to build for Zynq UltraScale+. Use with_omx_header_path option to specify the path of those headers.')
+  endif
 elif omx_target == 'tizonia'
   cdata.set('USE_OMX_TARGET_TIZONIA', 1)
   tizil_dep = dependency('tizilheaders', version : tizil_req)