diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ AX_LIB_MYSQL
 AS_IF( [test "x${MYSQL_VERSION}" = "x"],
 	[ AC_MSG_ERROR([I need mysql]) ] )
 
+LIBS_save="$LIBS"
+CFLAGS_save="$CFLAGS"
+LIBS="$LIBS $DISTLIBS_LIBS"
+CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $DISTLIBS_CFLAGS"
+AC_LINK_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([#include <list.h>
+	#include <stdio.h>
+	], [printf(stderr, "%s", list_brag);
+	return 0;])], [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_LIST_BRAG], [], [Define if liblist has list_brag.])], [])
+LIBS="$LIBS_save"
+CFLAGS="$CFLAGS_save"
+
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([CHECK], [check >= 0.9.3])
 
 dnl define paths for configuration files until a better arrangement is