diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ce7e8aa842..08ef54103e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -4771,7 +4771,7 @@ fi
 if test "$fortify_source" != "no"; then
   if echo | $cc -dM -E - | grep __clang__ > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
     fortify_source="no";
-  elif test -n "$cxx" &&
+  elif test -n "$cxx" && has $cxx &&
        echo | $cxx -dM -E - | grep __clang__ >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
     fortify_source="no";
   else