--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1503,7 +1503,7 @@ if [ -n "$gclib" -a -n "$gcinclude" ]; then
 #include <gc.h>
 main()
 {
-  extern unsigned GC_version;
+  unsigned GC_version = GC_get_version();
   printf("%d%02d%03d\n",(GC_version>>16)&0xff,(GC_version>>8)&0xff,GC_version&0xff);
 }
 EOF