diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5f7a07a2a6..0b564a0300 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -624,9 +624,12 @@ fi
 
 dnl Allow perl/python overrides
 AC_PATH_PROGS([PYTHON], [python2 python])
+if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
+         AC_MSG_ERROR(['python' or 'python2' binary is required to build libvirt])
+fi
 AC_PATH_PROG([PERL], [perl])
 if test -z "$PERL"; then
-         AC_MSG_ERROR([Failed to find perl.])
+         AC_MSG_ERROR(['perl' binary is required to build libvirt])
 fi
 
 LIBVIRT_ARG_WITH([TEST_SUITE], [build test suite by default], [check])
diff --git a/mingw-libvirt.spec.in b/mingw-libvirt.spec.in
index dec799b40a..302f66396e 100644
--- a/mingw-libvirt.spec.in
+++ b/mingw-libvirt.spec.in
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ BuildRequires:  mingw64-portablexdr
 BuildRequires:  pkgconfig
 # Need native version for msgfmt
 BuildRequires:  gettext
+BuildRequires:  python
 BuildRequires:  perl
 BuildRequires:  perl(Getopt::Long)
 %if 0%{?enable_autotools}