diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ba187691c..a4a521ab8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -349,6 +349,16 @@ remove_mwindows() {
         echo "$1" | sed 's/-mwindows//' | compact_spaces_pipe
 }
 
+## ensures that user explicitly requested feature is present, otherwise fail
+## @param $1  feature requeseted
+## @param $2  feature feature found
+## @param $3  error message
+ensure_feature_present() {
+        if test "$1" = yes && test "$2" = no; then
+                AC_MSG_ERROR([$3]);
+        fi
+}
+
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # GCC-specific warning flags
 if test "$GCC" = yes
@@ -2195,6 +2205,8 @@ else
 	HOST_CC_REPORT=""
 fi
 
+ensure_feature_present "$cuda_req" "$FOUND_CUDA" "CUDA not found"
+
 AC_SUBST(CUDA_INC)
 AC_SUBST(CUDA_COMPILER)
 AC_SUBST(CUDA_COMPUTE_ARGS)