diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ee32ad0530..7ea9cb3247 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -287,7 +287,6 @@ curses=""
 docs=""
 fdt=""
 netmap="no"
-pixman=""
 sdl=""
 sdlabi=""
 virtfs=""
@@ -923,10 +922,6 @@ for opt do
     # configure to be used by RPM and similar macros that set
     # lots of directory switches by default.
   ;;
-  --with-system-pixman) pixman="system"
-  ;;
-  --without-pixman) pixman="none"
-  ;;
   --disable-sdl) sdl="no"
   ;;
   --enable-sdl) sdl="yes"
@@ -3293,24 +3288,10 @@ fi
 ##########################################
 # pixman support probe
 
-if test "$pixman" = ""; then
-  if test "$want_tools" = "no" -a "$softmmu" = "no"; then
-    pixman="none"
-  elif $pkg_config --atleast-version=0.21.8 pixman-1 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-    pixman="system"
-  fi
-fi
-if test "$pixman" = "none"; then
-  if test "$want_tools" != "no" -o "$softmmu" != "no"; then
-    error_exit "pixman disabled but system emulation or tools build" \
-        "enabled.  You can turn off pixman only if you also" \
-        "disable all system emulation targets and the tools" \
-        "build with '--disable-tools --disable-system'."
-  fi
+if test "$want_tools" = "no" -a "$softmmu" = "no"; then
   pixman_cflags=
   pixman_libs=
-elif test "$pixman" = "system"; then
-  # pixman version has been checked above
+elif $pkg_config --atleast-version=0.21.8 pixman-1 > /dev/null 2>&1; then
   pixman_cflags=$($pkg_config --cflags pixman-1)
   pixman_libs=$($pkg_config --libs pixman-1)
 else
@@ -5288,7 +5269,6 @@ echo "static build      $static"
 if test "$darwin" = "yes" ; then
     echo "Cocoa support     $cocoa"
 fi
-echo "pixman            $pixman"
 echo "SDL support       $sdl $(echo_version $sdl $sdlversion)"
 echo "GTK support       $gtk $(echo_version $gtk $gtk_version)"
 echo "GTK GL support    $gtk_gl"