--- configure.ac.old
+++ configure.ac	2014-12-03 15:58:23.955998467 +1100
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@
 
 AC_PATH_X
 
-AC_CHECK_FT2([9.0.3],[],
-             [AC_MSG_ERROR([FreeType2 is required to compile this library])])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([FT2], [freetype2 >= 9.0.3])
+AC_SUBST(FT2_CFLAGS)
+AC_SUBST(FT2_LIBS)
 
 AC_PATH_XTRA