diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 649ca5ba7bd..99a5173b87f 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2538,15 +2538,10 @@ if [ "$XPLATFORM_SYMBIAN_SBSV2" = "no" ]; then
     fi
 fi
 
-SYSROOT_FLAG=
 if [ -n "$CFG_SYSROOT" ]; then
-    if compilerSupportsFlag --sysroot="$CFG_SYSROOT"; then
-	[ "$OPT_VERBOSE" = "yes" ] && echo "Setting sysroot to: $CFG_SYSROOT"
-	SYSROOT_FLAG="--sysroot=$CFG_SYSROOT"
-    else
-	echo >&2 "The compiler doesn't support the --sysroot flag, I can't set the sysroot"
-	exit 1
-    fi
+    SYSROOT_FLAG="--sysroot=$CFG_SYSROOT"
+else
+    SYSROOT_FLAG=
 fi
 export SYSROOT_FLAG    # used by config.tests/unix/compile.test