diff --git a/build-aux/m4/bitcoin_secp.m4 b/build-aux/m4/bitcoin_secp.m4
index 154157ffb4..d7386962fe 100644
--- a/build-aux/m4/bitcoin_secp.m4
+++ b/build-aux/m4/bitcoin_secp.m4
@@ -9,6 +9,25 @@ AC_LINK_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[
 AC_MSG_RESULT([$has_64bit_asm])
 ])
 
+AC_DEFUN([SECP_ARM32_ASM_CHECK], [
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING(for ARM32 assembly availability)
+  SECP_ARM32_ASM_CHECK_CFLAGS_saved_CFLAGS="$CFLAGS"
+  CFLAGS="-x assembler"
+  AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([[
+    .syntax unified
+    .eabi_attribute 24, 1
+    .eabi_attribute 25, 1
+    .text
+    .global test_function
+    .type test_function, %function
+    test_function:
+      ldr r0, =0x002A
+      bx lr
+    ]], [has_arm32_asm=yes], [has_arm32_asm=no])
+  AC_MSG_RESULT([$has_arm32_asm])
+  CFLAGS="$SECP_ARM32_ASM_CHECK_CFLAGS_saved_CFLAGS"
+])
+
 AC_DEFUN([SECP_VALGRIND_CHECK],[
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for valgrind support])
 if test x"$has_valgrind" != x"yes"; then
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0b99aa3a98..c898b9239a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -280,6 +280,10 @@ else
     fi
     ;;
   arm32)
+    SECP_ARM32_ASM_CHECK
+    if test x"$has_arm32_asm" != x"yes"; then
+      AC_MSG_ERROR([ARM32 assembly optimization requested but not available])
+    fi
     ;;
   no)
     ;;