diff --git a/m4/timespec.m4 b/m4/timespec.m4
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad3e069f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/timespec.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#serial 1
+
+dnl From Jim Meyering
+
+dnl Define HAVE_STRUCT_TIMESPEC if `struct timespec' is declared in time.h.
+
+AC_DEFUN(jm_CHECK_TYPE_STRUCT_TIMESPEC,
+[
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for struct timespec], fu_cv_sys_struct_timespec,
+    [AC_TRY_COMPILE(
+      [
+#include <time.h>
+      ],
+      [static struct timespec x; x.tv_sec = x.tv_nsec;],
+      fu_cv_sys_struct_timespec=yes,
+      fu_cv_sys_struct_timespec=no)
+    ])
+
+  if test $fu_cv_sys_struct_timespec = yes; then
+    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(HAVE_STRUCT_TIMESPEC, 1,
+		       [Define if struct timespec is declared in <time.h>. ])
+  fi
+])