diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a0010da1..19f29c09 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ esac
 
 # TODO turn this into a macro?
 save_LIBS=$LIBS
-AC_SEARCH_LIBS([setupterm], [termlib termcap curses])
+AC_SEARCH_LIBS([setupterm], [termlib termcap curses ncurses])
+# FIXME if not found, complain and switch off highlighting
 termlibs=`echo $LIBS | sed s/\`echo $save_LIBS | sed 's/././g'\`'$//'`
 AC_SUBST(termlibs)
 LIBS=$save_LIBS