diff --git a/m4/virt-driver-qemu.m4 b/m4/virt-driver-qemu.m4
index ddb2834705..2d9992d0dc 100644
--- a/m4/virt-driver-qemu.m4
+++ b/m4/virt-driver-qemu.m4
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_DRIVER_ARG_QEMU], [
 
 AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_DRIVER_CHECK_QEMU], [
   AC_REQUIRE([LIBVIRT_CHECK_JANSSON])
+  if test "$with_qemu:$with_jansson" = "yes:no"; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([Jansson >= 2.5 is required to build QEMU driver])
+  fi
   if test "$with_qemu" = "check"; then
     with_qemu=$with_jansson
   fi