diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-11-16-06-42.gh-issue-123917.JuZl0r.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-11-16-06-42.gh-issue-123917.JuZl0r.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..4cf4a177f1513f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-11-16-06-42.gh-issue-123917.JuZl0r.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix the check for the ``crypt()`` function in the configure script. Patch by
+Paul Smith and Victor Stinner.
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 173674073ca51e..1c75810d9e8c4b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -22041,16 +22041,18 @@ else $as_nop
           #include <crypt.h>
         #endif
         #include <unistd.h>
+        volatile void *func;
 
 int
 main (void)
 {
 
         #ifdef HAVE_CRYPT_R
-          void *x = crypt_r;
+          func = crypt_r;
         #else
-          void *x = crypt;
+          func = crypt;
         #endif
+          return (func != NULL);
 
   ;
   return 0;
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f22e71f46fea5e..d0d54050286cd8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -5237,12 +5237,14 @@ WITH_SAVE_ENV([
           #include <crypt.h>
         #endif
         #include <unistd.h>
+        volatile void *func;
       ], [
         #ifdef HAVE_CRYPT_R
-          void *x = crypt_r;
+          func = crypt_r;
         #else
-          void *x = crypt;
+          func = crypt;
         #endif
+          return (func != NULL);
       ])
     ], [ac_cv_crypt_crypt=yes], [ac_cv_crypt_crypt=no])
   ])