diff --git a/openbsc/configure.ac b/openbsc/configure.ac
index 7e244bc65..c6ae15974 100644
--- a/openbsc/configure.ac
+++ b/openbsc/configure.ac
@@ -120,7 +120,10 @@ AC_SUBST(found_libgtp_and_libcares)
 dnl checks for header files
 AC_HEADER_STDC
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS(dbi/dbd.h,,AC_MSG_ERROR(DBI library is not installed))
-AC_CHECK_HEADERS(pcap/pcap.h,,AC_MSG_ERROR(PCAP library is not installed))
+
+found_pcap=yes
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS(pcap/pcap.h,,found_pcap=no)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_PCAP, test "$found_pcap" = yes)
 
 found_cdk=yes
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS(cdk/cdk.h,,found_cdk=no)
diff --git a/openbsc/src/utils/Makefile.am b/openbsc/src/utils/Makefile.am
index ab4f3ced6..9c3837a36 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/openbsc/src/utils/Makefile.am
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ bin_PROGRAMS = \
 	$(NULL)
 if HAVE_SQLITE3
 bin_PROGRAMS += \
-	osmo-meas-pcap2db \
 	osmo-meas-udp2db \
 	$(NULL)
+if HAVE_PCAP
+bin_PROGRAMS += \
+	osmo-meas-pcap2db \
+	$(NULL)
+endif
 endif
 if HAVE_LIBCDK
 bin_PROGRAMS += \