diff --git a/configure b/configure
index f9ec050bf8..81561be7c1 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1423,30 +1423,31 @@ if test "$tcg" = "enabled"; then
     git_submodules="$git_submodules tests/fp/berkeley-softfloat-3"
 fi
 
-# ---
+##########################################
 # big/little endian test
 cat > $TMPC << EOF
-#include <stdio.h>
-short big_endian[] = { 0x4269, 0x4765, 0x4e64, 0x4961, 0x4e00, 0, };
-short little_endian[] = { 0x694c, 0x7454, 0x654c, 0x6e45, 0x6944, 0x6e41, 0, };
-int main(int argc, char *argv[])
-{
-    return printf("%s %s\n", (char *)big_endian, (char *)little_endian);
-}
+#if defined(__BYTE_ORDER__) && __BYTE_ORDER__ == __ORDER_LITTLE_ENDIAN__
+# error LITTLE
+#endif
+int main(void) { return 0; }
 EOF
 
-if compile_prog ; then
-    if strings -a $TMPE | grep -q BiGeNdIaN ; then
-        bigendian="yes"
-    elif strings -a $TMPE | grep -q LiTtLeEnDiAn ; then
-        bigendian="no"
-    else
-        echo big/little test failed
-        exit 1
-    fi
+if ! compile_prog ; then
+  bigendian="no"
 else
+  cat > $TMPC << EOF
+#if defined(__BYTE_ORDER__) && __BYTE_ORDER__ == __ORDER_BIG_ENDIAN__
+# error BIG
+#endif
+int main(void) { return 0; }
+EOF
+
+  if ! compile_prog ; then
+    bigendian="yes"
+  else
     echo big/little test failed
     exit 1
+  fi
 fi
 
 ##########################################