diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0bd18e0572..a5b3499476 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -121,8 +121,6 @@ LIBVIRT_CHECK_XDR
 LIBVIRT_CHECK_YAJL
 
 
-AC_CHECK_LIB([util],[openpty],[])
-
 
 dnl
 dnl Virtualization drivers check
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index bd5baa8454..a03a8a269c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1388,6 +1388,11 @@ if udev_dep.found()
   conf.set('WITH_UDEV', 1)
 endif
 
+util_dep = cc.find_library('util', required: false)
+if util_dep.found()
+  add_project_link_arguments('-lutil', language: 'c')
+endif
+
 
 # generic build dependencies checks