--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -291,7 +291,12 @@
 dnl XXX This could be done for cross-compiling, but for now it's not.
 dnl
 if test -z "$with_pcap" && test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
-	AC_MSG_ERROR(pcap type not determined when cross-compiling; use --with-pcap=...)
+	if test -z "$with_pcap" ; then
+		case $host in
+			*-linux*) with_pcap="linux";;
+			*) AC_MSG_ERROR(pcap type not determined when cross-compiling; use --with-pcap=...);;
+		esac
+	fi
 fi
 AC_ARG_WITH(pcap,
 AC_HELP_STRING([--with-pcap=TYPE],[use packet capture TYPE]))
