diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ecdb33a58e..728caca0d0 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1359,6 +1359,14 @@ esac
 
 fi
 
+##########################################
+# pkg-config probe
+
+if ! has "$pkg_config_exe"; then
+  echo "Error: pkg-config binary '$pkg_config_exe' not found"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 ##########################################
 # NPTL probe
 
@@ -1589,14 +1597,6 @@ if test "$xen_pci_passthrough" != "no"; then
   fi
 fi
 
-##########################################
-# pkg-config probe
-
-if ! has "$pkg_config_exe"; then
-  echo "Error: pkg-config binary '$pkg_config_exe' not found"
-  exit 1
-fi
-
 ##########################################
 # libtool probe