diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-06-07-18-55-35.bpo-32493.1Bte62.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-06-07-18-55-35.bpo-32493.1Bte62.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..3d8bb3ed305cb7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-06-07-18-55-35.bpo-32493.1Bte62.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Correct test for ``uuid_enc_be`` availability in ``configure.ac``.
+Patch by Michael Felt.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5a2afe57f535e88..e0389649ae0655e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -9714,9 +9714,7 @@ main ()
 {
 
 #ifndef uuid_enc_be
-uuid_t uuid;
-unsigned char buf[sizeof(uuid)];
-uuid_enc_be(buf, &uuid);
+void *x = uuid_enc_be
 #endif
 
   ;
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c844eb105c374d5..b5beb0857475bd9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -2782,9 +2782,7 @@ void *x = uuid_create
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(for uuid_enc_be)
 AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <uuid.h>]], [[
 #ifndef uuid_enc_be
-uuid_t uuid;
-unsigned char buf[sizeof(uuid)];
-uuid_enc_be(buf, &uuid);
+void *x = uuid_enc_be
 #endif
 ]])],
   [AC_DEFINE(HAVE_UUID_ENC_BE, 1, Define if uuid_enc_be() exists.)