diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a09ae6a5922..f2a8332d71a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3309,8 +3309,7 @@ if test "${HAVE_X11}" = "yes"; then
 	    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OTF_GET_VARIATION_GLYPHS, 1,
 		      [Define to 1 if libotf has OTF_get_variation_glyphs.])
 	  fi
-	  EMACS_CHECK_MODULES([OTFOK], [libotf >= 0.9.16])
-	  if test "$HAVE_OTFOK" != "yes"; then
+          if ! $PKG_CONFIG --atleast-version=0.9.16 libotf; then
 	    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OTF_KANNADA_BUG, 1,
 [Define to 1 if libotf is affected by https://debbugs.gnu.org/28110.])
 	  fi