diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 8e10059607..5e444692b4 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2917,27 +2917,38 @@ fi
 # curses probe
 if test "$curses" != "no" ; then
   if test "$mingw32" = "yes" ; then
-    curses_list="$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null):-lpdcurses"
+    curses_inc_list="$($pkg_config --cflags ncurses 2>/dev/null):"
+    curses_lib_list="$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null):-lpdcurses"
   else
-    curses_list="$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null):-lncurses:-lcurses"
+    curses_inc_list="$($pkg_config --cflags ncursesw 2>/dev/null):"
+    curses_lib_list="$($pkg_config --libs ncursesw 2>/dev/null):-lncursesw:-lcursesw"
   fi
   curses_found=no
   cat > $TMPC << EOF
+#include <locale.h>
 #include <curses.h>
+#include <wchar.h>
 int main(void) {
   const char *s = curses_version();
+  wchar_t wch = L'w';
+  setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
   resize_term(0, 0);
+  addwstr(L"wide chars\n");
+  addnwstr(&wch, 1);
   return s != 0;
 }
 EOF
   IFS=:
-  for curses_lib in $curses_list; do
-    unset IFS
-    if compile_prog "" "$curses_lib" ; then
-      curses_found=yes
-      libs_softmmu="$curses_lib $libs_softmmu"
-      break
-    fi
+  for curses_inc in $curses_inc_list; do
+    for curses_lib in $curses_lib_list; do
+      unset IFS
+      if compile_prog "$curses_inc" "$curses_lib" ; then
+        curses_found=yes
+        QEMU_CFLAGS="$curses_inc $QEMU_CFLAGS"
+        libs_softmmu="$curses_lib $libs_softmmu"
+        break
+      fi
+    done
   done
   unset IFS
   if test "$curses_found" = "yes" ; then