diff --git a/cf/have-type.m4 b/cf/have-type.m4
index b3d80a6d3..a9facdfa6 100644
--- a/cf/have-type.m4
+++ b/cf/have-type.m4
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ dnl check for existance of a type
 
 dnl AC_HAVE_TYPE(TYPE,INCLUDES)
 AC_DEFUN(AC_HAVE_TYPE, [
+AC_REQUIRE([AC_HEADER_STDC])
 cv=`echo "$1" | sed 'y%./+- %__p__%'`
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(for $1)
 AC_CACHE_VAL([ac_cv_type_$cv],