--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(netcdf,
 	      [with_netcdf=$withval],
 	      [with_netcdf='yes'])
 
+# Enable szip.
+AC_ARG_WITH(szlib,
+	      [  --with-szlib            Use szlib library for external szlib I/O (default is yes)],
+	      [with_szlib=$withval],
+	      [with_szlib='yes'])
+
 # Enable 64-bit arenas, if supported
 AC_ARG_WITH(large-arenas,
               [  --with-large-arenas     enable 64-bit arenas, when available (default is no)],
@@ -790,6 +796,39 @@ fi
 
 
 #
+# Check for szlib
+#
+have_szlib='no'
+LIB_SZLIB=''
+if test "$with_szlib" != 'no'
+then
+    AS_MESSAGE([checking for szlib ......])
+    failed=0;
+    passed=0;
+    AC_CHECK_HEADERS(szlib.h, passed=`expr $passed + 1`,failed=`expr $failed + 1`)
+    AC_CHECK_LIB(sz, SZ_BufftoBuffCompress,passed=`expr $passed + 1`,failed=`expr $failed + 1`,)
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING(if szlib package is complete)
+    if test $passed -gt 0
+    then
+    if test $failed -gt 0
+    then
+	AC_MSG_RESULT(no -- some components failed test)
+        have_szlib='no (failed tests)'
+    else
+	LIB_SZLIB='-lsz'
+	LIBS="$LIB_SZLIB $LIBS"
+	FMT_LIBS="$FMT_LIBS libsz.a"
+	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_LIBSZIP, 1, [Define to 1 if you have the SZLIB libraries])
+	AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+        have_szlib='yes'
+    fi
+    else
+        AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
+    fi
+fi
+
+
+#
 # Check for IMAGEMAGICK
 #
 have_magick='no'