diff --git a/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor b/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
index 66610c9349..b1c5836bf8 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
@@ -1534,9 +1534,10 @@ enable-float-min/max
 enable-fsqrt
 
 : check-sse ( -- )
-    [ { (sse-version) } compile ] with-optimizer
+    [ { (sse-version) (popcnt?) } compile ] with-optimizer
     sse-version 20 < [
         "Factor requires SSE2, which your CPU does not support." print
         flush
         1 exit
-    ] when ;
+    ] when
+    popcnt? [ enable-bit-count ] when ;