--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3570,12 +3570,8 @@
 ])
 have_sndio="no"
 AS_IF([test "$enable_sndio" != "no"], [
-  PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SNDIO], [sndio], [
+  AC_CHECK_HEADER([sndio.h], [
     have_sndio="yes"
-  ], [
-    AS_IF([test -n "$enable_sndio"], [
-      AC_MSG_ERROR([${SNDIO_PKG_ERRORS}.)])
-    ])
   ])
 ])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_SNDIO], [test "${have_sndio}" = "yes"])
