diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c2763e5..1409cbe 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -565,10 +565,10 @@ if eval "test x$CURSES_LIB_NAME = x"; then
 fi
 
 if eval "test x$CURSES_LIB_NAME = x"; then
-	AC_MSG_WARN([
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([
 *** No curses lib available.  Consider getting the official ncurses
-*** distribution from ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/ncurses if you get
-*** errors compiling nano.])
+*** distribution from ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/ncurses or try
+*** install libncurses-dev from your package manager.])
 else
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([Using $CURSES_LIB_NAME as the curses library])
 fi