diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e062662d9..b798a3255 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1934,8 +1934,10 @@ else
 	  AC_MSG_RESULT(not found)
 	fi
 	;;
+    "")
+        AC_MSG_RESULT([could not find $PHP-config or obtain PHP version from it]) ;;
     *)
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([found PHP $version, but only PHP 5 is supported]) ;;
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([found PHP $php_version, but only PHP 5 is supported]) ;;
     esac
 fi
 AC_SUBST(PHP)