diff --git a/make/autoconf/flags-ldflags.m4 b/make/autoconf/flags-ldflags.m4
index a2d0d4e606a..fab8bec789b 100644
--- a/make/autoconf/flags-ldflags.m4
+++ b/make/autoconf/flags-ldflags.m4
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([FLAGS_SETUP_LDFLAGS_HELPER],
     LDFLAGS_CXX_PARTIAL_LINKING="$MACHINE_FLAG -r"
 
     if test "x$OPENJDK_TARGET_OS" = xlinux; then
+      # Clang needs the lld linker to work correctly
       BASIC_LDFLAGS="-fuse-ld=lld -Wl,--exclude-libs,ALL"
+      UTIL_REQUIRE_PROGS(LLD, lld)
     fi
     if test "x$OPENJDK_TARGET_OS" = xaix; then
       BASIC_LDFLAGS="-Wl,-b64 -Wl,-brtl -Wl,-bnorwexec -Wl,-bnolibpath -Wl,-bnoexpall \