diff --git a/acinclude.m4 b/acinclude.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd01f165
--- /dev/null
+++ b/acinclude.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Checks the location of the XML Catalog
+# Usage:
+#   JH_PATH_XML_CATALOG([ACTION-IF-FOUND], [ACTION-IF-NOT-FOUND])
+# Defines XMLCATALOG and XML_CATALOG_FILE substitutions
+AC_DEFUN([JH_PATH_XML_CATALOG],
+[
+  # check for the presence of the XML catalog
+  AC_ARG_WITH([xml-catalog],
+              AC_HELP_STRING([--with-xml-catalog=CATALOG],
+                             [path to xml catalog to use]),,
+              [with_xml_catalog=/etc/xml/catalog])
+  jh_found_xmlcatalog=true
+  XML_CATALOG_FILE="$with_xml_catalog"
+  AC_SUBST([XML_CATALOG_FILE])
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([for XML catalog ($XML_CATALOG_FILE)])
+  if test -f "$XML_CATALOG_FILE"; then
+    AC_MSG_RESULT([found])
+  else
+    jh_found_xmlcatalog=false
+    AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])
+  fi
+
+  # check for the xmlcatalog program
+  AC_PATH_PROG(XMLCATALOG, xmlcatalog, no)
+  if test "x$XMLCATALOG" = xno; then
+    jh_found_xmlcatalog=false
+  fi
+
+  if $jh_found_xmlcatalog; then
+    ifelse([$1],,[:],[$1])
+  else
+    ifelse([$2],,[AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find XML catalog])],[$2])
+  fi
+])
+
+# Checks if a particular URI appears in the XML catalog
+# Usage:
+#   JH_CHECK_XML_CATALOG(URI, [FRIENDLY-NAME], [ACTION-IF-FOUND], [ACTION-IF-NOT-FOUND])
+AC_DEFUN([JH_CHECK_XML_CATALOG],
+[
+  AC_REQUIRE([JH_PATH_XML_CATALOG],[JH_PATH_XML_CATALOG(,[:])])dnl
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([for ifelse([$2],,[$1],[$2]) in XML catalog])
+  if $jh_found_xmlcatalog && \
+     AC_RUN_LOG([$XMLCATALOG --noout "$XML_CATALOG_FILE" "$1" >&2]); then
+    AC_MSG_RESULT([found])
+    ifelse([$3],,,[$3
+])dnl
+  else
+    AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])
+    ifelse([$4],,
+       [AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find ifelse([$2],,[$1],[$2]) in XML catalog])],
+       [$4])
+  fi
+])
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 526f60d0..e429364b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -99,6 +99,20 @@ if test x$enable_documentation = xyes; then
    if test x$XSLTPROC = x; then
       AC_MSG_ERROR([xsltproc is required to build documentation])
    fi
+
+  dnl check for DocBook DTD in the local catalog
+  JH_CHECK_XML_CATALOG([-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.1.2//EN],
+     [DocBook XML DTD V4.1.2], [have_docbook_dtd=yes], [have_docbook_dtd=no])
+  if test "$have_docbook_dtd" != yes; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([DocBook DTD is required for --enable-documentation])
+  fi
+
+  dnl check for DocBook XSL stylesheets in the local catalog
+  JH_CHECK_XML_CATALOG([http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl],
+     [DocBook XSL Stylesheets], [have_docbook_style=yes],[have_docbook_style=no])
+  if test "$have_docbook_style" != yes; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([DocBook XSL Stylesheets are required for --enable-documentation])
+  fi
 fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_DOCUMENTATION, test x$enable_documentation = xyes)