diff --git a/development/cmake/ConfigureChecks.cmake b/development/cmake/ConfigureChecks.cmake
index 7c3d398cbd..8dfe8039fd 100644
--- a/development/cmake/ConfigureChecks.cmake
+++ b/development/cmake/ConfigureChecks.cmake
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ include(CheckLibraryExists)
 include(CheckTypeSize)
 include(CheckCXXSourceCompiles)
 include(MacroBoolTo01)
+include(TestBigEndian)
 
+test_big_endian(WORDS_BIGENDIAN)
 
 check_include_file_cxx(aspell.h HAVE_ASPELL_H)
 check_include_file_cxx(aspell/aspell.h HAVE_ASPELL_ASPELL_H)
diff --git a/development/cmake/config.h.cmake b/development/cmake/config.h.cmake
index b3a15cca53..f491f1aec2 100644
--- a/development/cmake/config.h.cmake
+++ b/development/cmake/config.h.cmake
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #include "pcheaders.h"
 #endif
 
+#cmakedefine WORDS_BIGENDIAN 1
+
 #cmakedefine HAVE_ASPELL_ASPELL_H 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE_ASPELL_H 1