diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 87de49e2c217..8549c7b5ebe5 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -3531,19 +3531,6 @@ if compile_prog "" "" ; then
   iovec=yes
 fi
 
-##########################################
-# preadv probe
-cat > $TMPC <<EOF
-#include <sys/types.h>
-#include <sys/uio.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-int main(void) { return preadv(0, 0, 0, 0); }
-EOF
-preadv=no
-if compile_prog "" "" ; then
-  preadv=yes
-fi
-
 ##########################################
 # fdt probe
 
@@ -5748,9 +5735,6 @@ fi
 if test "$iovec" = "yes" ; then
   echo "CONFIG_IOVEC=y" >> $config_host_mak
 fi
-if test "$preadv" = "yes" ; then
-  echo "CONFIG_PREADV=y" >> $config_host_mak
-fi
 if test "$membarrier" = "yes" ; then
   echo "CONFIG_MEMBARRIER=y" >> $config_host_mak
 fi
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a58c6f678546..27c31caa2d11 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1128,6 +1128,8 @@ config_host_data.set('HAVE_PTY_H', cc.has_header('pty.h'))
 config_host_data.set('HAVE_SYS_IOCCOM_H', cc.has_header('sys/ioccom.h'))
 config_host_data.set('HAVE_SYS_KCOV_H', cc.has_header('sys/kcov.h'))
 
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_PREADV', cc.has_function('preadv', prefix: '#include <sys/uio.h>'))
+
 ignored = ['CONFIG_QEMU_INTERP_PREFIX'] # actually per-target
 arrays = ['CONFIG_AUDIO_DRIVERS', 'CONFIG_BDRV_RW_WHITELIST', 'CONFIG_BDRV_RO_WHITELIST']
 strings = ['HOST_DSOSUF', 'CONFIG_IASL']
@@ -2414,7 +2416,7 @@ summary_info += {'PIE':               get_option('b_pie')}
 summary_info += {'static build':      config_host.has_key('CONFIG_STATIC')}
 summary_info += {'malloc trim support': has_malloc_trim}
 summary_info += {'membarrier':        config_host.has_key('CONFIG_MEMBARRIER')}
-summary_info += {'preadv support':    config_host.has_key('CONFIG_PREADV')}
+summary_info += {'preadv support':    config_host_data.get('CONFIG_PREADV')}
 summary_info += {'fdatasync':         config_host.has_key('CONFIG_FDATASYNC')}
 summary_info += {'madvise':           config_host.has_key('CONFIG_MADVISE')}
 summary_info += {'posix_madvise':     config_host.has_key('CONFIG_POSIX_MADVISE')}