diff --git a/Makefile.PL b/Makefile.PL
index c1e829f..2f5d85a 100644
--- a/Makefile.PL
+++ b/Makefile.PL
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
     ABSTRACT       => 'Visualization of paradigmatic and syntagmatic word relations.',
     VERSION_FROM   => 'script/derekovecs-server',
     LICENSE        => 'apache',
+    # this file uses Devel::CheckLib itself, so installers have to provide it
+    # before they can even run it
+    CONFIGURE_REQUIRES => {
+     'Devel::CheckLib' => '1.16',
+    },
     BUILD_REQUIRES => {
      'Test::More' => 0,
      'Test::TempFile' => 0,