diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 00aa887b5..dcfa1a05c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -886,7 +886,15 @@ else
   AC_SUBST(PY3LIB)
   AC_SUBST(PY3LINK)
   AC_SUBST(PYTHON3DYNAMICLINKING)
+fi
+
+if test -n "$PYINCLUDE" || test -n "$PY3INCLUDE" ; then
   AC_CHECK_PROGS(PEP8, pep8)
+  if test -n "$PEP8"; then
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING(pep8 version)
+    pep8_version=`$PEP8 --version 2>/dev/null`
+    AC_MSG_RESULT($pep8_version)
+  fi
 fi
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------------