diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 93cac35a32c..0a910da67a4 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -2043,6 +2043,9 @@ fail;
 fi
 
 HAVE_GTK=no
+if test "${with_gtk}" = "yes" && test "$USE_X_TOOLKIT" = "gtk"; then
+  USE_X_TOOLKIT=none
+fi
 if test "${with_gtk}" = "yes" || test "$USE_X_TOOLKIT" = "gtk"; then
   if test "$USE_X_TOOLKIT" != "none" && test "$USE_X_TOOLKIT" != "maybe"; then
     AC_MSG_ERROR([Conflicting options, --with-gtk is incompatible with --with-x-toolkit=${with_x_toolkit}]);
@@ -2062,6 +2065,13 @@ if test "${with_gtk}" = "yes" || test "$USE_X_TOOLKIT" = "gtk"; then
   C_SWITCH_X_SITE="$C_SWITCH_X_SITE $GTK_CFLAGS"
   CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $GTK_CFLAGS"
   LIBS="$GTK_LIBS $LIBS"
+  dnl Try to compile a simple GTK program.
+  GTK_COMPILES=no
+  AC_CHECK_FUNCS(gtk_main, GTK_COMPILES=yes)
+  if test "${GTK_COMPILES}" != "yes"; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([Gtk+ wanted, but it does not compile, see config.log.  Maybe some x11-devel files missing?]);
+  fi
+  
   HAVE_GTK=yes
   AC_DEFINE(HAVE_GTK, 1, [Define to 1 if using GTK.])
   USE_X_TOOLKIT=none