diff --git a/README.in b/README.in
index 3ccd01400..914459eb2 100644
--- a/README.in
+++ b/README.in
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ On X11, Cogl depends on the following extensions
   • XExt
   • XFixes ≥ @XFIXES_REQ_VERSION@
 
+For the Wayland backend, Cogl requires:
+  • Wayland ≥ @WAYLAND_REQ_VERSION@
+
 When running with OpenGL, Cogl requires at least version 1.3
 or 1.2 with the multitexturing extension. However to build Cogl
 you will need the latest GL headers which can be obtained from:
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e0f7f96ac..ed33dacd6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ m4_define([xfixes_req_version],         [3])
 m4_define([xcomposite_req_version],     [0.4])
 m4_define([xrandr_req_version],         [1.2])
 m4_define([cairo_req_version],          [1.10])
+m4_define([wayland_req_version],        [1.0.0])
 
 dnl These variables get copied into the generated README
 AC_SUBST([GLIB_REQ_VERSION], [glib_req_version])
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ AC_SUBST([XFIXES_REQ_VERSION], [xfixes_req_version])
 AC_SUBST([GTK_DOC_REQ_VERSION], [gtk_doc_req_version])
 AC_SUBST([GI_REQ_VERSION], [gi_req_version])
 AC_SUBST([UPROF_REQ_VERSION], [uprof_req_version])
+AC_SUBST([WAYLAND_REQ_VERSION], [wayland_req_version])
 
 # Save this value here, since automake will set cflags later and we
 # want to know if the user specified custom cflags or not.
@@ -915,12 +917,10 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_wayland_egl_platform" = "xyes"],
         NEED_EGL=yes
         EGL_PLATFORMS="$EGL_PLATFORMS wayland"
 
-        PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([wayland-egl],
-                         [
-                           COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-egl"
-                           COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-client"
-                         ],
-                         [AC_MSG_ERROR([Unable to locate required wayland libraries])])
+        PKG_CHECK_MODULES(WAYLAND_CLIENT,
+                          [wayland-egl >= wayland_req_version wayland-client >= wayland_req_version])
+        COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-egl >= wayland_req_version"
+        COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-client >= wayland_req_version"
 
         COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS="$COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS COGL_HAS_EGL_PLATFORM_WAYLAND_SUPPORT"
       ])
@@ -971,11 +971,9 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_wayland_egl_server" = "xyes"],
       [
         NEED_EGL=yes
 
-        PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([wayland-server],
-                         [
-                           COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-server"
-                         ],
-                         [AC_MSG_ERROR([Unable to locate required wayland-server library])])
+        PKG_CHECK_MODULES(WAYLAND_SERVER,
+                          [wayland-server >= wayland_req_version])
+        COGL_PKG_REQUIRES="$COGL_PKG_REQUIRES wayland-server >= wayland_req_version"
 
         COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS="$COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS COGL_HAS_WAYLAND_EGL_SERVER_SUPPORT"
       ])