diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b1e8c5c67a7e328d936bd7e87135a5bf5c8ff85a..0b3cf23b94bbf49691d0b1e0fdb74510d7d2fa84 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -58,14 +58,10 @@ fi
 # Configure default shell for spawning shell when $SHELL is not set
 AC_ARG_WITH([shell],
   [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-shell],
-                  [used interpreter as default shell (default is /bin/bash)])],
+                  [used interpreter as default shell (default is /bin/sh)])],
                   [DEFAULT_SHELL=$withval],
-                  [DEFAULT_SHELL=/bin/bash])
+                  [DEFAULT_SHELL=/bin/sh])
 AC_MSG_NOTICE([Using $DEFAULT_SHELL as the default shell if \$SHELL is not set])
-AC_CHECK_PROG(TEST_SHELL, $DEFAULT_SHELL, yes, no, [/])
-if test "x$TEST_SHELL" != "xyes"; then
-  AC_MSG_ERROR([Default shell interpreter $DEFAULT_SHELL not found])
-fi
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(DEFAULT_SHELL, "$DEFAULT_SHELL", [Used default shell interpreter])