diff --git a/m4/senseApis.m4 b/m4/senseApis.m4
index 393788c..065ba96 100644
--- a/m4/senseApis.m4
+++ b/m4/senseApis.m4
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([senseapi-xcbxorg],
             AC_DEFINE([XCBXORG_ENABLED], [1],
                 [Define to 1 if you have XCB/Xorg SenseAPI backend])
             SENSEAPIS_ENABLED="${SENSEAPIS_ENABLED} xcbXorg"
+            PKG_CHECK_MODULES([XCB], [xcb], [], [
+                AC_MSG_ERROR(m4_normalize([XCB library not found. Sense API
+                    XCB/Xorg requires the XCB dev headers and shlib.]))
+            ])
         ]
     )],
     [enable_senseapi_xcbxorg=no]