diff --git a/ext/config.m4 b/ext/config.m4
index a08bb2c..675e00c 100644
--- a/ext/config.m4
+++ b/ext/config.m4
@@ -6,13 +6,34 @@ PHP_ARG_ENABLE(maxminddb-debug, for MaxMind DB debug support,
     [ --enable-maxminddb-debug    Enable enable MaxMind DB deubg support], no, no)
 
 if test $PHP_MAXMINDDB != "no"; then
-    PHP_CHECK_LIBRARY(maxminddb, MMDB_open)
+
+    AC_PATH_PROG(PKG_CONFIG, pkg-config, no)
+
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING(for libmaxminddb)
+    if test -x "$PKG_CONFIG" && $PKG_CONFIG --exists libmaxminddb; then
+        dnl retrieve build options from pkg-config
+        if $PKG_CONFIG libmaxminddb --atleast-version 1.0.0; then
+            LIBMAXMINDDB_INC=`$PKG_CONFIG libmaxminddb --cflags`
+            LIBMAXMINDDB_LIB=`$PKG_CONFIG libmaxminddb --libs`
+            LIBMAXMINDDB_VER=`$PKG_CONFIG libmaxminddb --modversion`
+            AC_MSG_RESULT(found version $LIBMAXMINDDB_VER)
+        else
+            AC_MSG_ERROR(system libmaxminddb must be upgraded to version >= 1.0.0)
+        fi
+        PHP_EVAL_LIBLINE($LIBMAXMINDDB_LIB, MAXMINDDB_SHARED_LIBADD)
+        PHP_EVAL_INCLINE($LIBMAXMINDDB_INC)
+    else
+        AC_MSG_RESULT(pkg-config information missing)
+        AC_MSG_WARN(will use libmaxmxinddb from compiler default path)
+
+        PHP_CHECK_LIBRARY(maxminddb, MMDB_open)
+        PHP_ADD_LIBRARY(maxminddb, 1, MAXMINDDB_SHARED_LIBADD)
+    fi
 
     if test $PHP_MAXMINDDB_DEBUG != "no"; then
         CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Wall -Wextra -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -Werror"
     fi
 
-    PHP_ADD_LIBRARY(maxminddb, 1, MAXMINDDB_SHARED_LIBADD)
     PHP_SUBST(MAXMINDDB_SHARED_LIBADD)
 
     PHP_NEW_EXTENSION(maxminddb, maxminddb.c, $ext_shared)