diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 6f1a587a952..5ab53933426 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ if test -z "$PERL" || test "$PERL" = ":"; then
 fi
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for minimum required perl version >= $PERL_VERSION])
-_perl_version=`$PERL -e 'print "$]"; if ($] >= $PERL_VERSION) { exit(0); } else { exit(1); }' 2>&5`
+_perl_version=`PERL_VERSION=$PERL_VERSION $PERL -e 'print "$]"; if ($] >= $ENV{PERL_VERSION}) { exit(0); } else { exit(1); }' 2>&5`
 _perl_res=$?
 AC_MSG_RESULT([$_perl_version])