diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d17dda0..e761c80 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -84,6 +84,33 @@ then
 fi
 AC_SUBST(CONFIG_BACKTRACE)
 
+CFLAGS_KEEP=$CFLAGS
+CFLAGS=$EVENT_CFLAGS
+if [[ "$EVENT_LDFLAGS" == "-levent" ]]; then
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([checking whether event.h is compatible with libevent])
+	AC_COMPILE_IFELSE(
+			  [AC_LANG_SOURCE([[
+	#ifdef EV_H_
+	#error
+	#endif
+			  ]])],
+			  [AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])],
+			  [AC_MSG_ERROR([incompatible event.h header for libevent])]
+	)
+else
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([checking whether event.h is compatible with libev])
+	AC_COMPILE_IFELSE(
+			  [AC_LANG_SOURCE([[
+	#ifndef EV_H_
+	#error
+	#endif
+			  ]])],
+			  [AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])],
+			  [AC_MSG_ERROR([incompatible event.h header for libev])]
+	)
+fi
+CFLAGS=$CFLAGS_KEEP
+
 # Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
 AC_HEADER_STDBOOL
 AC_C_CONST