diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b566d04ff..f6edabdb8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10011,3 +10011,10 @@ if test "$MINGW_LIB_WARNING" = "yes"
 then
     AC_MSG_WARN([Building with shared and static library at the same time on this system may cause export/import problems when using non contemporary GNU tools.])
 fi
+
+if test -n "$WITH_MAX_ECC_BITS"; then
+    if test "$WITH_MAX_ECC_BITS" -lt "$ENABLED_ECCMINSZ"; then
+        AC_MSG_ERROR([--with-max-ecc-bits argument ($WITH_MAX_ECC_BITS) must be greater than --with-eccminsz argument ($ENABLED_ECCMINSZ)])
+    fi
+fi
+