diff --git a/configure b/configure
index f56da495b3..5fddb6fa3b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -27959,7 +27959,7 @@ $as_echo_n "checking whether a simple MPI-IO Fortran program can be linked... "
       cat > conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
 
           PROGRAM main
-          USE mpi
+          include "mpif.h"
           INTEGER :: ierr
           CALL mpi_file_open( ierr )
           END
diff --git a/m4/aclocal_fc.m4 b/m4/aclocal_fc.m4
index 806d9c5434..64c115a0ab 100644
--- a/m4/aclocal_fc.m4
+++ b/m4/aclocal_fc.m4
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ dnl   Try link a simple MPI program.
       AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether a simple MPI-IO Fortran program can be linked])
       AC_LINK_IFELSE([ 
           PROGRAM main
-          USE mpi
+          include "mpif.h"
           INTEGER :: ierr
           CALL mpi_file_open( ierr )
           END],