diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index cf55954364..65ad18775c 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -617,9 +617,19 @@ if test $ol_with_threads = auto -o $ol_with_threads = yes \
 		dnl 	pthread_mutex_trylock() in -lpthreads -lexc (OSF/1)
 		dnl
 
+		dnl hack the Pthread detection problem in IRIX 6*
+
+ 		save_LIBS="$LIBS"
+
+		case "$host_os" in
+		irix6*)  AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, main, [LTHREAD_LIBS="$LTHREAD_LIBS -lpthread" LIBS="-lpthread $LIBS"]);;
+		esac
+
 		dnl pthread_create in $LIBS
 		AC_CHECK_FUNC(pthread_create,[ol_link_threads=yes])
 
+		LIBS="$save_LIBS"
+
 		if test $ol_link_threads = no ; then
 			dnl try -mt
 			AC_CACHE_CHECK([for pthread_create with -mt],