diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 21944eaa05..fbb6a93c99 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -3042,14 +3042,13 @@ if test "$curses" != "no" ; then
 #include <curses.h>
 #include <wchar.h>
 int main(void) {
-  const char *s = curses_version();
   wchar_t wch = L'w';
   setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
   resize_term(0, 0);
   addwstr(L"wide chars\n");
   addnwstr(&wch, 1);
   add_wch(WACS_DEGREE);
-  return s != 0;
+  return 0;
 }
 EOF
   IFS=: