diff --git a/README.nurbs++ b/README.nurbs++
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..923fbb16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.nurbs++
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+You *must* have the libnurbs++ package installed on your system to
+build portions of TerraGear".
+
+You can get the latest version of libnurbs++ from:
+
+    http://libnurbs.sourceforge.net/
+
+More information:
+
+  Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curves and surface are
+  parametric functions which can represent any type of curves or
+  surfaces. This C++ library hides the basic mathematics of
+  NURBS. This allows the user to focus on the more challenging parts
+  of their projects. The library also offers a lot of features to help
+  generate NURBS from data points.
+
+  The NURBS++ package includes a matrix library, an image manipulation
+  library, a numerical library and a NURBS library. They can all be
+  used on their own but they are all developped to support my NURBS
+  needs.
+
+  NURBS++ is being revived under sourceforge as the nurbs++ project
+  (it is under the libnurbs directory for obvious reasons). Please use
+  the sourceforge tools to send bug reports, feature requests, etc.
+
+  This library is now used in the Mind's Eyes project and also in the
+  Innovation3D project. Both projects aim at creating a free 3D
+  modeller for UNIX machines. If you know other projects which use the
+  library please let me know. It helps justify the effort I put into
+  it.
+
+  The library is under the GNU Library Public Licence term. This means
+  it's free. You can copy it, modify it and even enjoy it. You do have
+  to add my name as the author of the work, after all this is still
+  copyrighted material. If the above license is bad for you, talk to
+  me. I'm sure we can work something out.
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a95545d2..040c6a8a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -208,13 +208,26 @@ AC_CHECK_HEADER(plib/pu.h)
 if test "x$ac_cv_header_plib_pu_h" != "xyes"; then
     echo
     echo "You *must* have the plib library installed on your system to build"
-    echo "the FGFS simulator!"
+    echo "TerraGear!"
     echo
     echo "Please see README.plib for more details."
     echo
     echo "configure aborted."
     exit
 fi
+
+dnl Check for "libnurbs++" without which we cannot go on
+AC_CHECK_HEADER(nurbs++/nurbsS.hh)
+if test "x$ac_cv_header_nurbspp_nurbsS_hh" != "xyes"; then
+    echo
+    echo "You *must* have the nurbs++ library installed on your system to build"
+    echo "TerraGear!"
+    echo
+    echo "Please see README.nurbs++ for more details."
+    echo
+    echo "configure aborted."
+    exit
+fi
 AC_LANG_POP
 
 dnl Check if Generic Polygon Clipping library is installed
@@ -250,7 +263,7 @@ AC_CHECK_HEADER(simgear/version.h)
 if test "x$ac_cv_header_simgear_version_h" != "xyes"; then
     echo
     echo "You *must* have the SimGear support library installed on your system"
-    echo "to build the FGFS simulator!"
+    echo "to build TerraGear!"
     echo
     echo "Please see README.SimGear for more details."
     echo