diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5f53af1503..fa66c4f49d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -4284,6 +4284,10 @@ if enabled asm; then
 \n: .int 0
 .endm
 m x
+EOF
+
+    check_as <<EOF || $nogas "GNU assembler not found, install gas-preprocessor"
+.altmacro
 EOF
 
     check_as <<EOF && enable as_func