diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9ae3b503fa4e3e63e97f6288c73addded4b03778..0f70178245891d6b33210ec156e72def6a65d052 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ AS_IF([test "x$YACC_BISON" != "xbison"],
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 
 # Check for Ragel
-AC_PATH_PROG(RAGEL, ragel)
+AC_PATH_PROG([RAGEL], [ragel], [echo !UNPROCESSED! ragel])
 
 # Set compiler compatibility flags
 AC_PROG_CPP_WERROR