diff --git a/src/configure.ac b/src/configure.ac
index 664f219..6311269 100644
--- a/src/configure.ac
+++ b/src/configure.ac
@@ -4523,6 +4523,15 @@
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
       fi
       AC_SUBST(MSGFMT_DESKTOP)
+      AC_MSG_CHECKING([if msgfmt supports --no-convert])
+      if "$MSGFMT" --help | grep -q --  '--no-convert' >/dev/null; then
+        AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+        MSGFMTCMD="OLD_PO_FILE_INPUT=yes msgfmt --no-convert -v"
+      else
+        AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+        MSGFMTCMD="OLD_PO_FILE_INPUT=yes msgfmt -v"
+      fi
+      AC_SUBST(MSGFMTCMD)
     fi
   else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no "po/Makefile" - disabled]);