diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -4226,9 +4226,14 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(computed-gotos,
 [
 if test "$withval" = yes
 then 
-  AC_DEFINE(USE_COMPUTED_GOTOS, 1,
-  [Define if you want to use computed gotos in ceval.c.]) 
-  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+  if test "$ac_cv_computed_gotos" = yes
+  then
+    AC_DEFINE(USE_COMPUTED_GOTOS, 1,
+    [Define if you want to use computed gotos in ceval.c.])
+    AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+  else
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([--with-computed-gotos was specified, but the compiler does not support computed gotos])
+  fi
 fi
 if test "$withval" = no
 then 
@@ -4237,7 +4242,14 @@ then
   AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
 fi
 ],
-[AC_MSG_RESULT(no value specified)])
+[
+if test "$ac_cv_computed_gotos" = yes
+then
+  AC_DEFINE(USE_COMPUTED_GOTOS, 1,
+  [Define if you want to use computed gotos in ceval.c.])
+  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+fi
+])
 
 case $ac_sys_system in
 AIX*)