--- configure.in	(revision 1450982)
+++ configure.in	(working copy)
@@ -4354,7 +4354,7 @@ 
         fi
         AC_CHECK_FILE($HSQLDB_JAR, [],
                [AC_MSG_ERROR(hsqldb.jar not found.)], [])
-        AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether hsqldb is 1.8.0.x])
+        AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether hsqldb is >= 1.8.0.9])
         export HSQLDB_JAR
         if $PERL -e 'use Archive::Zip;
             my $file = "$ENV{'HSQLDB_JAR'}";
@@ -4367,7 +4367,7 @@ 
                       ($t, $version) = split (/:/,$line);
                       $version =~ s/^\s//;
                       ($a, $b, $c, $d) = split (/\./,$version);
-                      if ($c == "0" && $d > "8")  {
+                      if (($c == "0" && $d > "8") || $c > 0)  {
                           exit 0;
                       } else {
                           exit 1;
@@ -4379,7 +4379,7 @@ 
             }'; then
             AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
          else
-            AC_MSG_ERROR([no, you need hsqldb >= 1.8.0.9 but < 1.8.1])
+            AC_MSG_ERROR([no, hsqldb >= 1.8.0.9 is needed])
          fi
 else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([internal])