diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 757ea95c..fe6592ba 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ AC_ARG_WITH([cython],
             [build_cython=false],
             [build_cython=true])
 if test "$build_cython" = "true"; then
-            AC_PROG_CYTHON([0.17.0])
+            AC_PROG_CYTHON([3.0.0])
             if [test "x$CYTHON" != "xfalse"]; then
-              AM_PATH_PYTHON([2.3], [CYTHON_PYTHON])
+              AM_PATH_PYTHON([3.0], [CYTHON_PYTHON])
             fi
 else
             CYTHON=false