diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9aad3e6060..e528bc4366 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ GST_CHECK_FEATURE(QCAM, [QuickCam], qcamsrc, HAVE_QCAM="yes")
 dnl *** Video 4 Linux ***
 translit(dnm, m, l) AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_V4L, true)
 GST_CHECK_FEATURE(V4L, [Video 4 Linux], v4lsrc, [
-  AC_CHECK_HEADER(linux/videodev.h, HAVE_V4L="yes", HAVE_V4L="no")
+  AC_CHECK_DECL(VID_TYPE_MPEG_ENCODER, HAVE_V4L="yes", HAVE_V4L="no", [#include <linux/videodev.h>])
 ])
 
 dnl *** Video CD ***