diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 49b5481139..63f38fa94c 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2365,24 +2365,27 @@ feature_not_found() {
 # ---
 # 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, };
-extern int foo(short *, short *);
-int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    return foo(big_endian, little_endian);
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    return printf("%s %s\n", (char *)big_endian, (char *)little_endian);
 }
 EOF
 
-if compile_object ; then
-    if strings -a $TMPO | grep -q BiGeNdIaN ; then
+if compile_prog ; then
+    if strings -a $TMPE | grep -q BiGeNdIaN ; then
         bigendian="yes"
-    elif strings -a $TMPO | grep -q LiTtLeEnDiAn ; then
+    elif strings -a $TMPE | grep -q LiTtLeEnDiAn ; then
         bigendian="no"
     else
         echo big/little test failed
+        exit 1
     fi
 else
     echo big/little test failed
+    exit 1
 fi
 
 ##########################################