diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 4ebb60dedc..6211db9553 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2039,7 +2039,7 @@ fi
 if test "$mingw32" = "yes" ; then
     curses_list="-lpdcurses"
 else
-    curses_list="-lncurses:-lcurses:$($pkg_config --libs ncurses)"
+    curses_list="-lncurses:-lcurses:$($pkg_config --libs ncurses 2>/dev/null)"
 fi
 
 if test "$curses" != "no" ; then