diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 91a90be3c..e1de0037c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ AC_FUNC_MALLOC
 AC_CHECK_FUNC([memset], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([NCCL OFI Plugin requires memset function.])])
 AC_CHECK_FUNC([realpath], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([NCCL OFI Plugin requires realpath function.])])
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([dlopen], [dl], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([NCCL OFI Plugin requires dlopen])])
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS([pthread_getspecific], [pthread], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([NCCL OFI Plugin requires pthreads.])])
 
 # Check for GCC builtin functions
 CHECK_GCC_BUILTIN([__builtin_expect])