diff --git a/aclocal.m4 b/aclocal.m4
index dcbe78b4ce9..0f361228715 100644
--- a/aclocal.m4
+++ b/aclocal.m4
@@ -178,6 +178,12 @@ AC_DEFUN([WINE_WARNING_WITH],[AS_IF([$2],[case "x$with_$1" in
 This is an error since --with-$1 was requested.]) ;;
 esac])])
 
+AC_DEFUN([WINE_ERROR_WITH],[AS_IF([$2],[case "x$with_$1" in
+  xno) ;;
+  *)   AC_MSG_ERROR([$3
+Use the --without-$1 option if you really want this.]) ;;
+esac])])
+
 AC_DEFUN([WINE_PRINT_MESSAGES],[ac_save_IFS="$IFS"
 IFS="|"
 if test "x$wine_notices != "x; then
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index e572c7fb438..26899f1e84d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -11563,18 +11563,15 @@ else
 fi
 if test "x$XLIB" = "x"; then
   case "x$with_x" in
-  x)   wine_warnings="$wine_warnings|X development files not found. Wine will be built
-without X support, which probably isn't what you want. You will need to install
-development packages of Xlib/Xfree86 at the very least." ;;
   xno) ;;
   *)   { { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: X development files not found. Wine will be built
 without X support, which probably isn't what you want. You will need to install
 development packages of Xlib/Xfree86 at the very least.
-This is an error since --with-x was requested." >&5
+Use the --without-x option if you really want this." >&5
 echo "$as_me: error: X development files not found. Wine will be built
 without X support, which probably isn't what you want. You will need to install
 development packages of Xlib/Xfree86 at the very least.
-This is an error since --with-x was requested." >&2;}
+Use the --without-x option if you really want this." >&2;}
    { (exit 1); exit 1; }; } ;;
 esac
 fi
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fc81d92a9cb..942d989b6ed 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ else
     X_CFLAGS=""
     X_LIBS=""
 fi
-WINE_WARNING_WITH(x,[test "x$XLIB" = "x"],[X development files not found. Wine will be built
+WINE_ERROR_WITH(x,[test "x$XLIB" = "x"],[X development files not found. Wine will be built
 without X support, which probably isn't what you want. You will need to install
 development packages of Xlib/Xfree86 at the very least.])