diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c2db5f58..2c8064f6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -497,7 +497,14 @@ if test x"$with_orc" != "xno"; then
   PKG_CHECK_MODULES(ORC, orc-0.4 >= 0.4.11,
     [AC_DEFINE(HAVE_ORC,1,[define if you have orc-0.4.11 or later installed.])
      with_orc=yes
-     PACKAGES_USED="$PACKAGES_USED orc-0.4"],
+     PACKAGES_USED="$PACKAGES_USED orc-0.4"
+     save_LIBS=$LIBS
+     LIBS="$LIBS $ORC_LIBS"
+     AC_CHECK_FUNCS(orc_program_get_error,
+       AC_DEFINE(HAVE_ORC_PROGRAM_GET_ERROR,1,
+	      [define if your orc has orc_program_get_error.]))
+     LIBS=$save_LIBS
+    ],
     [AC_MSG_WARN([orc-0.4.11 or later not found; disabling orc support])
      with_orc=no
     ])
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
index 6d4d6477..577a40a6 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@ gboolean vips__vector_enabled = TRUE;
 void
 vips_vector_error( VipsVector *vector )
 {
+#ifdef HAVE_ORC_PROGRAM_GET_ERROR
 	if( vector->program )
 		vips_warn( "VipsVector", "orc error: %s", 
 			orc_program_get_error( vector->program ) ); 
+#endif /*HAVE_ORC_PROGRAM_GET_ERROR*/
 }
 
 void