diff --git a/lib-src/portmidi/configure b/lib-src/portmidi/configure
index f8518beec..36071d19b 100755
--- a/lib-src/portmidi/configure
+++ b/lib-src/portmidi/configure
@@ -5613,6 +5613,9 @@ _ACEOF
 fi
 
 
+$as_echo "#define PMALSA 1" >>confdefs.h
+
+
 ac_config_files="$ac_config_files Makefile portmidi.pc portmidi-uninstalled.pc"
 
 
diff --git a/lib-src/portmidi/configure.ac b/lib-src/portmidi/configure.ac
index a9970d03b..38f2d8cf1 100644
--- a/lib-src/portmidi/configure.ac
+++ b/lib-src/portmidi/configure.ac
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ dnl Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
 AC_C_CONST
 AC_TYPE_SIZE_T
 
+dnl PMALSA indicates that portmidi should be built with alsa support (needed)
+AC_DEFINE(PMALSA, 1)
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile portmidi.pc portmidi-uninstalled.pc])
 
 AC_OUTPUT