diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 4401f3c59..1f9b58c0b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1189,16 +1189,7 @@ if test $sdl2_req = yes -a $found_sdl2 = no; then
         AC_MSG_ERROR([SDL2 not found]);
 fi
 
-# prefer SDL1
-if test $sdl1_req != no -a $found_sdl1 = yes
-then
-        SDL1_OBJ="src/video_display/sdl.o"
-        AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SDL], [1],  [Build with SDL support])
-        ADD_MODULE("display_sdl", "$SDL1_OBJ", "$SDL1_LIBS")
-        SDL_LIB=$SDL1_LIB
-        sdl_version=1
-        sdl=yes
-else
+# prefer SDL2
 if test $sdl2_req != no -a $found_sdl2 = yes
 then
         SDL2_OBJ="src/video_display/sdl2.o"
@@ -1207,6 +1198,15 @@ then
         SDL_LIB=$SDL2_LIB
         sdl_version=2
         sdl=yes
+else
+if test $sdl1_req != no -a $found_sdl1 = yes
+then
+        SDL1_OBJ="src/video_display/sdl.o"
+        AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SDL], [1],  [Build with SDL support])
+        ADD_MODULE("display_sdl", "$SDL1_OBJ", "$SDL1_LIBS")
+        SDL_LIB=$SDL1_LIB
+        sdl_version=1
+        sdl=yes
 fi
 fi