diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 26efd5f..9d6579a 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ libblkmaker_include_HEADERS = \
 
 libblkmaker_jansson_@LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION@_la_SOURCES = blkmaker_jansson.c
 libblkmaker_jansson_@LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION@_la_DEPENDENCIES = libblkmaker-$(LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION).la
+libblkmaker_jansson_@LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION@_la_CFLAGS = $(JANSSON_CFLAGS)
 libblkmaker_jansson_@LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION@_la_LDFLAGS = \
 	-lblkmaker-$(LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION) \
-	-ljansson \
+	$(JANSSON_LIBS) \
 	-no-undefined \
 	-version-info $(LIBBLKMAKER_SO_VERSION)
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index bd930fb..bbf2eb8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -19,6 +19,27 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
 	libblkmaker_jansson-${LIBBLKMAKER_API_VERSION}.pc:libblkmaker_jansson.pc.in
 ])
 
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([JANSSON],[jansson],[
+	true
+],[
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for jansson in system-default locations])
+	LIBS="$LIBS -ljansson"
+	AC_TRY_LINK([
+		#include <jansson.h>
+	],[
+		json_object();
+	],[
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([found])
+		JANSSON_LIBS=-ljansson
+	],[
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find jansson library])
+	])
+	LIBS="${save_LIBS}"
+])
+AC_SUBST(JANSSON_CFLAGS)
+AC_SUBST(JANSSON_LIBS)
+
 AC_CHECK_LIB([ws2_32], [strchr])
 
 AC_OUTPUT