diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index efc60c70..5cf46f7d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 AM_SILENT_RULES
+AC_ARG_VAR(SYSROOT,[locate config scripts also below that directory])
 
 # Enable GNU extensions on systems that have them.
 AC_GNU_SOURCE
@@ -636,3 +637,12 @@ echo "
         FD Passing:      $use_descriptor_passing
         GPGME Pthread:   $have_pthread
 "
+if test "x${gpg_config_script_warn}" != x; then
+cat <<G10EOF
+        Mismatches between the target platform and the to
+        be used libraries have been been detected for:
+         ${gpg_config_script_warn}
+        Please check above for warning messages.
+
+G10EOF
+fi
diff --git a/doc/gpgme.texi b/doc/gpgme.texi
index 1f4a9e1d..b23e7b11 100644
--- a/doc/gpgme.texi
+++ b/doc/gpgme.texi
@@ -391,8 +391,8 @@ to @acronym{GPGME} take the form @code{_gpgme_*} and @code{_GPGME_*}.
 
 Because @acronym{GPGME} makes use of the GPG Error library, using
 @acronym{GPGME} will also use the @code{GPG_ERR_*} name space
-directly, and the @code{gpg_err*} and @code{gpg_str*} name space
-indirectly.
+directly, and the @code{gpg_err*}, @code{gpg_str*}, and @code{gpgrt_*}
+name space indirectly.
 
 
 @node Building the Source
@@ -575,7 +575,10 @@ given.
 Additionally, the function defines @code{GPGME_CFLAGS} to the flags
 needed for compilation of the program to find the @file{gpgme.h}
 header file, and @code{GPGME_LIBS} to the linker flags needed to link
-the program to the @acronym{GPGME} library.
+the program to the @acronym{GPGME} library.  If the used helper script
+does not match the target type you are building for a warning is
+printed and the string @code{libgcrypt} is appended to the variable
+@code{gpg_config_script_warn}.
 
 @code{AM_PATH_GPGME_PTH} checks for the version of @acronym{GPGME}
 that can be used with GNU Pth, and defines @code{GPGME_PTH_CFLAGS} and
@@ -584,6 +587,16 @@ that can be used with GNU Pth, and defines @code{GPGME_PTH_CFLAGS} and
 @code{AM_PATH_GPGME_PTHREAD} checks for the version of @acronym{GPGME}
 that can be used with the native pthread implementation, and defines
 @code{GPGME_PTHREAD_CFLAGS} and @code{GPGME_PTHREAD_LIBS}.
+
+This macro searches for @command{gpgme-config} along the PATH.  If
+you are cross-compiling, it is useful to set the environment variable
+@code{SYSROOT} to the top directory of your target.  The macro will
+then first look for the helper program in the @file{bin} directory
+below that top directory.  An absolute directory name must be used for
+@code{SYSROOT}.  Finally, if the configure command line option
+@code{--with-gpgme-prefix} is used, only its value is used for the top
+directory below which the helper script is expected.
+
 @end defmac
 
 You can use the defined Autoconf variables like this in your
diff --git a/m4/gpg-error.m4 b/m4/gpg-error.m4
index feb963c6..1661204c 100644
--- a/m4/gpg-error.m4
+++ b/m4/gpg-error.m4
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # gpg-error.m4 - autoconf macro to detect libgpg-error.
-# Copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 g10 Code GmbH
+# Copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2014 g10 Code GmbH
 #
 # This file is free software; as a special exception the author gives
 # unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it, with or without
@@ -8,10 +8,21 @@
 # This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
 # WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without even the
 # implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+#
+# Last-changed: 2014-10-02
+
 
 dnl AM_PATH_GPG_ERROR([MINIMUM-VERSION,
 dnl                   [ACTION-IF-FOUND [, ACTION-IF-NOT-FOUND ]]])
-dnl Test for libgpg-error and define GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS and GPG_ERROR_LIBS
+dnl
+dnl Test for libgpg-error and define GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS, GPG_ERROR_LIBS,
+dnl GPG_ERROR_MT_CFLAGS, and GPG_ERROR_MT_LIBS.  The _MT_ variants are
+dnl used for programs requireing real multi thread support.
+dnl
+dnl If a prefix option is not used, the config script is first
+dnl searched in $SYSROOT/bin and then along $PATH.  If the used
+dnl config script does not match the host specification the script
+dnl is added to the gpg_config_script_warn variable.
 dnl
 AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPG_ERROR],
 [ AC_REQUIRE([AC_CANONICAL_HOST])
@@ -30,13 +41,26 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPG_ERROR],
   AC_ARG_WITH(gpg-error-prefix,,
               [gpg_error_config_prefix="$withval"])
 
-  if test x$gpg_error_config_prefix != x ; then
-     if test x${GPG_ERROR_CONFIG+set} != xset ; then
-        GPG_ERROR_CONFIG=$gpg_error_config_prefix/bin/gpg-error-config
+  if test x"${GPG_ERROR_CONFIG}" = x ; then
+     if test x"${gpg_error_config_prefix}" != x ; then
+        GPG_ERROR_CONFIG="${gpg_error_config_prefix}/bin/gpg-error-config"
+     else
+       case "${SYSROOT}" in
+         /*)
+           if test -x "${SYSROOT}/bin/gpg-error-config" ; then
+             GPG_ERROR_CONFIG="${SYSROOT}/bin/gpg-error-config"
+           fi
+           ;;
+         '')
+           ;;
+          *)
+           AC_MSG_WARN([Ignoring \$SYSROOT as it is not an absolute path.])
+           ;;
+       esac
      fi
   fi
 
-  AC_PATH_TOOL(GPG_ERROR_CONFIG, gpg-error-config, no)
+  AC_PATH_PROG(GPG_ERROR_CONFIG, gpg-error-config, no)
   min_gpg_error_version=ifelse([$1], ,0.0,$1)
   AC_MSG_CHECKING(for GPG Error - version >= $min_gpg_error_version)
   ok=no
@@ -64,6 +88,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPG_ERROR],
   if test $ok = yes; then
     GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS=`$GPG_ERROR_CONFIG $gpg_error_config_args --cflags`
     GPG_ERROR_LIBS=`$GPG_ERROR_CONFIG $gpg_error_config_args --libs`
+    GPG_ERROR_MT_CFLAGS=`$GPG_ERROR_CONFIG $gpg_error_config_args --mt --cflags 2>/dev/null`
+    GPG_ERROR_MT_LIBS=`$GPG_ERROR_CONFIG $gpg_error_config_args --mt --libs 2>/dev/null`
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes ($gpg_error_config_version)])
     ifelse([$2], , :, [$2])
     gpg_error_config_host=`$GPG_ERROR_CONFIG $gpg_error_config_args --host 2>/dev/null || echo none`
@@ -75,16 +101,21 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPG_ERROR],
 *** built for $gpg_error_config_host and thus may not match the
 *** used host $host.
 *** You may want to use the configure option --with-gpg-error-prefix
-*** to specify a matching config script.
+*** to specify a matching config script or use \$SYSROOT.
 ***]])
+        gpg_config_script_warn="$gpg_config_script_warn libgpg-error"
       fi
     fi
   else
     GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS=""
     GPG_ERROR_LIBS=""
+    GPG_ERROR_MT_CFLAGS=""
+    GPG_ERROR_MT_LIBS=""
     AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
     ifelse([$3], , :, [$3])
   fi
   AC_SUBST(GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS)
   AC_SUBST(GPG_ERROR_LIBS)
+  AC_SUBST(GPG_ERROR_MT_CFLAGS)
+  AC_SUBST(GPG_ERROR_MT_LIBS)
 ])
diff --git a/src/gpgme.m4 b/src/gpgme.m4
index fe17f21a..6c2be442 100644
--- a/src/gpgme.m4
+++ b/src/gpgme.m4
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # gpgme.m4 - autoconf macro to detect GPGME.
-# Copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004 g10 Code GmbH
+# Copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014 g10 Code GmbH
 #
 # This file is free software; as a special exception the author gives
 # unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it, with or without
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 # This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
 # WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without even the
 # implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+#
+# Last-changed: 2014-10-02
 
 
 AC_DEFUN([_AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG],
@@ -15,9 +17,25 @@ AC_DEFUN([_AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG],
             AC_HELP_STRING([--with-gpgme-prefix=PFX],
                            [prefix where GPGME is installed (optional)]),
      gpgme_config_prefix="$withval", gpgme_config_prefix="")
-  if test "x$gpgme_config_prefix" != x ; then
-      GPGME_CONFIG="$gpgme_config_prefix/bin/gpgme-config"
+  if test x"${GPGME_CONFIG}" = x ; then
+     if test x"${gpgme_config_prefix}" != x ; then
+        GPGME_CONFIG="${gpgme_config_prefix}/bin/gpgme-config"
+     else
+       case "${SYSROOT}" in
+         /*)
+           if test -x "${SYSROOT}/bin/gpgme-config" ; then
+             GPGME_CONFIG="${SYSROOT}/bin/gpgme-config"
+           fi
+           ;;
+         '')
+           ;;
+          *)
+           AC_MSG_WARN([Ignoring \$SYSROOT as it is not an absolute path.])
+           ;;
+       esac
+     fi
   fi
+
   AC_PATH_PROG(GPGME_CONFIG, gpgme-config, no)
 
   if test "$GPGME_CONFIG" != "no" ; then
@@ -31,10 +49,35 @@ AC_DEFUN([_AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG],
                sed 's/\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\).*/\3/'`
 ])
 
+
+AC_DEFUN([_AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG_HOST_CHECK],
+[
+    gpgme_config_host=`$GPGME_CONFIG --host 2>/dev/null || echo none`
+    if test x"$gpgme_config_host" != xnone ; then
+      if test x"$gpgme_config_host" != x"$host" ; then
+  AC_MSG_WARN([[
+***
+*** The config script $GPGME_CONFIG was
+*** built for $gpgme_config_host and thus may not match the
+*** used host $host.
+*** You may want to use the configure option --with-gpgme-prefix
+*** to specify a matching config script or use \$SYSROOT.
+***]])
+        gpg_config_script_warn="$gpg_config_script_warn gpgme"
+      fi
+    fi
+])
+
+
 dnl AM_PATH_GPGME([MINIMUM-VERSION,
 dnl               [ACTION-IF-FOUND [, ACTION-IF-NOT-FOUND ]]])
 dnl Test for libgpgme and define GPGME_CFLAGS and GPGME_LIBS.
 dnl
+dnl If a prefix option is not used, the config script is first
+dnl searched in $SYSROOT/bin and then along $PATH.  If the used
+dnl config script does not match the host specification the script
+dnl is added to the gpg_config_script_warn variable.
+dnl
 AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME],
 [ AC_REQUIRE([_AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG])dnl
   tmp=ifelse([$1], ,1:0.4.2,$1)
@@ -57,7 +100,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME],
                sed 's/\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)/\3/'`
     if test "$gpgme_version_major" -gt "$req_major"; then
         ok=yes
-    else 
+    else
         if test "$gpgme_version_major" -eq "$req_major"; then
             if test "$gpgme_version_minor" -gt "$req_minor"; then
                ok=yes
@@ -88,6 +131,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME],
     GPGME_LIBS=`$GPGME_CONFIG --libs`
     AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
     ifelse([$2], , :, [$2])
+    _AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG_HOST_CHECK
   else
     GPGME_CFLAGS=""
     GPGME_LIBS=""
@@ -126,7 +170,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME_PTHREAD],
                sed 's/\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)/\3/'`
       if test "$gpgme_version_major" -gt "$req_major"; then
         ok=yes
-      else 
+      else
         if test "$gpgme_version_major" -eq "$req_major"; then
           if test "$gpgme_version_minor" -gt "$req_minor"; then
             ok=yes
@@ -158,6 +202,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME_PTHREAD],
     GPGME_PTHREAD_LIBS=`$GPGME_CONFIG --thread=pthread --libs`
     AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
     ifelse([$2], , :, [$2])
+    _AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG_HOST_CHECK
   else
     GPGME_PTHREAD_CFLAGS=""
     GPGME_PTHREAD_LIBS=""
@@ -195,7 +240,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME_GLIB],
                sed 's/\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)\.\([[0-9]]*\)/\3/'`
     if test "$gpgme_version_major" -gt "$req_major"; then
         ok=yes
-    else 
+    else
         if test "$gpgme_version_major" -eq "$req_major"; then
             if test "$gpgme_version_minor" -gt "$req_minor"; then
                ok=yes
@@ -226,6 +271,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME_GLIB],
     GPGME_GLIB_LIBS=`$GPGME_CONFIG --glib --libs`
     AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
     ifelse([$2], , :, [$2])
+    _AM_PATH_GPGME_CONFIG_HOST_CHECK
   else
     GPGME_GLIB_CFLAGS=""
     GPGME_GLIB_LIBS=""
@@ -235,4 +281,3 @@ AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_GPGME_GLIB],
   AC_SUBST(GPGME_GLIB_CFLAGS)
   AC_SUBST(GPGME_GLIB_LIBS)
 ])
-