diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 5500ba4a0..0052e4709 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -132,8 +132,9 @@ AC_CACHE_CHECK([for libevent directory], ac_cv_libevent_dir, [
       fi
     fi
     # Can I compile and link it?
-    AC_TRY_LINK([struct timeval { long tv_sec; long tv_usec; };
-typedef unsigned char u_char; typedef unsigned long size_t;
+    AC_TRY_LINK([typedef unsigned char u_char; typedef unsigned long size_t;
+#include <sys/time.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
 #include <event.h>], [ event_init(); ],
        [ libevent_linked=yes ], [ libevent_linked=no ])
     if test $libevent_linked = yes; then