--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
 AC_HEADER_STDC
 
 dnl check for ncurses
+AC_CHECK_LIB(tinfo, tparm)
 AC_CHECK_LIB(ncursesw,
-	     tparm,
+	     printw,
 	     [NCURSES="yes"],
 	     AC_MSG_ERROR([ncursesw is absolutely required!]))