--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -356,10 +356,10 @@
       
     # If Xft is installed, then there will be a xft-config file on the current path
     AC_MSG_CHECKING([for xft-config])
-    XFTCONFIG=`which xft-config`
+    XFTCONFIG="${PKG_CONFIG:-pkg-config} xft"
     XFT_CFLAGS=""
     XFT_LIBS=""
-    if test -x ${XFTCONFIG}; then
+    if ${XFTCONFIG} --exists; then
     	AC_MSG_RESULT([$XFTCONFIG])
     	XFT_CFLAGS=`${XFTCONFIG} --cflags`
     	XFT_LIBS=`${XFTCONFIG} --libs`