diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 921acd900..eb735a870 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ dnl warn if float is implicit promoted to double
 picky_compiler_flags="${picky_compiler_flags} -Wdouble-promotion"
 dnl warn for potential performance problem casts
 picky_compiler_flags="${picky_compiler_flags} -Wcast-align"
+dnl warn if a null dereference is detected
+picky_compiler_flags="${picky_compiler_flags} -Wnull-dereference"
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([picky-compiler],
    [AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-picky-compiler], [Disable adding picky compiler flags.])])