diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 06760055..a7aff595 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ AC_TYPE_SSIZE_T
 AC_C_BIGENDIAN(
   [],
   [AC_DEFINE(HAVE_LITTLE_ENDIAN, 1, [Define to 1 if machine is little endian])],
-  [AC_MSG_ERROR([endianess of this machine is unknown])],
-  [AC_MSG_ERROR([universial endianess not supported])]
+  [AC_MSG_ERROR([endianness of this machine is unknown])],
+  [AC_MSG_ERROR([universial endianness not supported])]
 )
 
 # Checks for header files