diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 34fecd33..6971db44 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+1999-01-05  Martin Baulig  <martin@home-of-linux.org>
+
+	* configure.in: Make it abort if the `dc' utility is not installed.
+
 1999-01-03  Martin Baulig  <martin@home-of-linux.org>
 
 	Released LibGTop 0.99.1.
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 6aad9414..019e4b2f 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -6,6 +6,16 @@ AC_INIT(copyright.txt)
 AM_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
 AC_CANONICAL_SYSTEM
 
+dnl This is required at several places
+AC_CHECK_PROG(ac_dc_found, dc, yes, no)
+if test x$ac_dc_found != xyes ; then
+AC_MSG_ERROR([
+*** The "dc" utility was not found on your system.
+***
+*** When using RedHat Linux, you need to install the "bc" package.
+***])
+fi
+
 . $srcdir/LIBGTOP-VERSION
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE($PACKAGE, $VERSION)