diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b8c5df886..6b35b8bf9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1364,6 +1364,10 @@ else
         opencv_version=
 fi
 
+if test "$opencv" = no && test "$opencv_req" = yes; then
+        AC_MSG_ERROR([OpenCV dependencies not found!]);
+fi
+
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # RTSP capture stuff
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------