diff --git a/configure.in.in b/configure.in.in
index ad74532..c3307f0 100644
--- a/configure.in.in
+++ b/configure.in.in
@@ -59,6 +59,31 @@ AC_SUBST(HOWTODIR)
 dnl Check for the used distribution
 AC_CHECK_DISTRIBUTION
 
+dnl Check for sword FTBFS on some 64bit architectures
+AC_LANG_SAVE
+AC_LANG_CPLUSPLUS
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([if Sword needs __SANE_USERSPACE_TYPES__])
+AC_TRY_COMPILE([
+    #include <signal.h>
+    #include <$ac_cv_sword_incdir/sysdata.h>
+    ],[],
+    AC_MSG_RESULT(no),
+    [AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+     sword_needs_sane_userspace_types=yes])
+if test "x$sword_needs_sane_userspace_types" = xyes; then
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([if Sword builds with __SANE_USERSPACE_TYPES__])
+  AC_TRY_COMPILE([
+      #define __SANE_USERSPACE_TYPES__
+      #include <signal.h>
+      #include <$ac_cv_sword_incdir/sysdata.h>
+      ],[],
+      AC_MSG_RESULT(yes),
+      [AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
+       AC_MSG_ERROR(Sword causes FTBFS on this architecture!)])
+  CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -D__SANE_USERSPACE_TYPES__"
+fi
+AC_LANG_RESTORE
+
 dnl Check bibletime API version
 AC_LANG_SAVE
 AC_LANG_CPLUSPLUS