diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 05848ea6..e6517e65 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -36,10 +36,16 @@ AM_MAINTAINER_MODE
 
 # Require X.Org macros 1.8 or later for MAN_SUBSTS set by XORG_MANPAGE_SECTIONS
 m4_ifndef([XORG_MACROS_VERSION],
-          [m4_fatal([must install xorg-macros 1.8 or later before running autoconf/autogen])])
+          [m4_fatal([must install xorg-macros 1.8 or later before running autoconf/autogen.
+  Try "apt-get install xutils-dev" or "yum install xorg-x11-util-macros"])])
 XORG_MACROS_VERSION(1.8)
 XORG_DEFAULT_OPTIONS
 
+# Require X.Org server macros (i.e. XORG_DRIVER_CHECK_EXT) to check for required modules 
+m4_ifndef([XORG_DRIVER_CHECK_EXT],
+          [m4_fatal([must install xorg-server macros before running autoconf/autogen.
+  Try "apt-get install xserver-xorg-dev" or "yum install xorg-x11-server-devel"])])
+
 # Initialize libtool
 AC_DISABLE_STATIC
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL