--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ iftop_SOURCES = addr_hash.c edline.c hash.c iftop.c ns_hash.c \
 #		 addrs_ioctl.c addrs_dlpi.c dlcommon.c \
 #		 stringmap.c cfgfile.c 
 
-
+iftop_LDADD = $(ncurses_LIBS)
 
 noinst_HEADERS = addr_hash.h ether.h ethertype.h extract.h hash.h iftop.h \
                  integers.h ip.h llc.h ns_hash.h options.h resolver.h \
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -348,29 +348,27 @@
 dnl AC_SEARCH_LIBS....
 dnl
 
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a curses library containing mvchgat])
-oldLIBS=$LIBS
-for curseslib in ncursesw curses ncurses ; do
-    LIBS="$oldLIBS -l$curseslib"
-    AC_TRY_LINK([
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([ncurses], [ncursesw], [foundcurseslib="$ncurses_LIBS"], [
+    PKG_CHECK_MODULES([ncurses], [ncurses], [foundcurseslib="$ncurses_LIBS"], [
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a curses library containing mvchgat])
+    oldLIBS=$LIBS
+    for curseslib in ncursesw curses ncurses ; do
+        LIBS="$oldLIBS -l$curseslib"
+        AC_TRY_LINK([
 #include <$curseslib.h>
         ], [
         mvchgat(0, 0, 1, A_REVERSE, 0, NULL)
         ], [
-        foundcurseslib=$curseslib
+        foundcurseslib=-l$curseslib
         break
         ])
-done
-
-if test x$foundcurseslib = x ; then
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([none found])
+    done
+	],
     AC_MSG_ERROR([Curses! Foiled again!
   (Can't find a curses library supporting mvchgat.)
   Consider installing ncurses.])
-else
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([-l$foundcurseslib])
-fi
-
+	)
+])
 
 dnl
 dnl POSIX threads. Different systems like different combinations of flags,