diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6dd1bf210..70ba71601 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -687,6 +687,12 @@ if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
     [
       PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SSL], [libssl],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(openssl  not found.)])
       PKG_CHECK_MODULES([CRYPTO], [libcrypto],,[AC_MSG_ERROR(libcrypto  not found.)])
+      if test x$build_bitcoin_utils$build_bitcoind$bitcoin_enable_qt$use_tests != xnononono; then
+        PKG_CHECK_MODULES([EVENT], [libevent],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(libevent not found.)])
+        if test x$TARGET_OS != xwindows; then
+          PKG_CHECK_MODULES([EVENT_PTHREADS], [libevent_pthreads],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(libevent_pthreads not found.)])
+        fi
+      fi
 
       if test "x$use_zmq" = "xyes"; then
         PKG_CHECK_MODULES([ZMQ],[libzmq >= 4],
@@ -709,6 +715,14 @@ else
   AC_CHECK_HEADER([openssl/ssl.h],, AC_MSG_ERROR(libssl headers missing),)
   AC_CHECK_LIB([ssl],         [main],SSL_LIBS=-lssl, AC_MSG_ERROR(libssl missing))
 
+  if test x$build_bitcoin_utils$build_bitcoind$bitcoin_enable_qt$use_tests != xnononono; then
+    AC_CHECK_HEADER([event2/event.h],, AC_MSG_ERROR(libevent headers missing),)
+    AC_CHECK_LIB([event],[main],EVENT_LIBS=-levent,AC_MSG_ERROR(libevent missing))
+    if test x$TARGET_OS != xwindows; then
+      AC_CHECK_LIB([event_pthreads],[main],EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS=-levent_pthreads,AC_MSG_ERROR(libevent_pthreads missing))
+    fi
+  fi
+
   if test "x$use_zmq" = "xyes"; then
      AC_CHECK_HEADER([zmq.h],
        [AC_DEFINE([ENABLE_ZMQ],[1],[Define to 1 to enable ZMQ functions])],
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 20455c971..c476208a1 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ obj/build.h: FORCE
 libbitcoin_util_a-clientversion.$(OBJEXT): obj/build.h
 
 # server: zcashd
-libbitcoin_server_a_CPPFLAGS = $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(MINIUPNPC_CPPFLAGS)
+libbitcoin_server_a_CPPFLAGS = $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(MINIUPNPC_CPPFLAGS) $(EVENT_CFLAGS) $(EVENT_PTHREADS_CFLAGS)
 libbitcoin_server_a_SOURCES = \
   sendalert.cpp \
   addrman.cpp \
@@ -390,13 +390,15 @@ zcashd_LDADD += \
   $(SSL_LIBS) \
   $(CRYPTO_LIBS) \
   $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS) \
+  $(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS) \
+  $(EVENT_LIBS) \
   $(LIBZCASH) \
   $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO) \
   $(LIBZCASH_LIBS)
 
 # bitcoin-cli binary #
 zcash_cli_SOURCES = bitcoin-cli.cpp
-zcash_cli_CPPFLAGS = $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES)
+zcash_cli_CPPFLAGS = $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(EVENT_CFLAGS)
 zcash_cli_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS)
 
 if TARGET_WINDOWS
@@ -410,6 +412,7 @@ zcash_cli_LDADD = \
   $(BOOST_LIBS) \
   $(SSL_LIBS) \
   $(CRYPTO_LIBS) \
+  $(EVENT_LIBS) \
   $(LIBZCASH) \
   $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO) \
   $(LIBZCASH_LIBS)