diff --git a/configure-gtk2.ac b/configure-gtk2.ac
index a7968a8..62137d8 100644
--- a/configure-gtk2.ac
+++ b/configure-gtk2.ac
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ AC_CHECK_SIZEOF([wchar_t])
 
 dnl set up gettext
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_REQUIRE_VERSION([0.21])
 
 dnl set up tap tests
 GLIB_TESTS
diff --git a/configure-gtk3.ac b/configure-gtk3.ac
index 075f4ae..ba9280c 100644
--- a/configure-gtk3.ac
+++ b/configure-gtk3.ac
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ AC_CHECK_SIZEOF([wchar_t])
 
 dnl set up gettext
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_REQUIRE_VERSION([0.21])
 
 dnl set up tap tests
 GLIB_TESTS
diff --git a/configure-gtk4.ac b/configure-gtk4.ac
index 1c6ef24..6851514 100644
--- a/configure-gtk4.ac
+++ b/configure-gtk4.ac
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ AC_CHECK_SIZEOF([wchar_t])
 
 dnl set up gettext
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_REQUIRE_VERSION([0.21])
 
 dnl set up tap tests
 GLIB_TESTS
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 075f4ae..ba9280c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ AC_CHECK_SIZEOF([wchar_t])
 
 dnl set up gettext
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
+AM_GNU_GETTEXT_REQUIRE_VERSION([0.21])
 
 dnl set up tap tests
 GLIB_TESTS