diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 19c980861..637049277 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 AC_GNU_SOURCE
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
-AC_CHECK_PROG(SETCAP, setcap, yes, no)
+AC_CHECK_PROG(SETCAP, setcap, yes, no, $PATH$PATH_SEPARATOR/sbin)
 AC_CHECK_PROG(DOCBOOK, docbook2man, yes, no)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_DOCBOOK, test x$DOCBOOK = xyes)
 AS_AC_EXPAND(PREFIX, $prefix)