diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 0a3c6a72c3..7621c008a5 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1840,6 +1840,31 @@ if test "$bogus_os" = "yes"; then
     error_exit "Unrecognized host OS (uname -s reports '$(uname -s)')"
 fi
 
+# Check whether the compiler matches our minimum requirements:
+cat > $TMPC << EOF
+#if defined(__clang_major__) && defined(__clang_minor__)
+# ifdef __apple_build_version__
+#  if __clang_major__ < 5 || (__clang_major__ == 5 && __clang_minor__ < 1)
+#   error You need at least XCode Clang v5.1 to compile QEMU
+#  endif
+# else
+#  if __clang_major__ < 3 || (__clang_major__ == 3 && __clang_minor__ < 4)
+#   error You need at least Clang v3.4 to compile QEMU
+#  endif
+# endif
+#elif defined(__GNUC__) && defined(__GNUC_MINOR__)
+# if __GNUC__ < 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ < 8)
+#  error You need at least GCC v4.8 to compile QEMU
+# endif
+#else
+# error You either need GCC or Clang to compiler QEMU
+#endif
+int main (void) { return 0; }
+EOF
+if ! compile_prog "" "" ; then
+    error_exit "You need at least GCC v4.8 or Clang v3.4 (or XCode Clang v5.1)"
+fi
+
 gcc_flags="-Wold-style-declaration -Wold-style-definition -Wtype-limits"
 gcc_flags="-Wformat-security -Wformat-y2k -Winit-self -Wignored-qualifiers $gcc_flags"
 gcc_flags="-Wno-missing-include-dirs -Wempty-body -Wnested-externs $gcc_flags"