diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index dec1e24f..e0eb5ab4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -51,4 +51,10 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
                  src/Makefile
                  src/sparkey/Makefile])
 
+AC_CHECK_PROG([FOUND_SHUF], [shuf], [yes])
+AC_CHECK_PROG([FOUND_GSHUF], [gshuf], [yes])
+
+AS_IF([test "x$FOUND_SHUF" = xyes],  [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SHUF], [1], [shuf available])])
+AS_IF([test "x$FOUND_GSHUF" = xyes],  [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_GSHUF], [1], [gshuf available])])
+
 AC_OUTPUT