diff --git a/lib/cpp/configure.ac b/lib/cpp/configure.ac
index d542feb..8763a4a 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/configure.ac
+++ b/lib/cpp/configure.ac
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 
 AX_BOOST_BASE([1.33.1])
 
+AX_EVENT_BASE([1.2.0])
+
 AC_CHECK_LIB(pthread, pthread_create)
 
 AC_CHECK_LIB(rt, sched_get_priority_min)