diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b147aa8b501e..5c67205a7064 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -285,10 +285,7 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(android-ndk,
 AC_ARG_WITH(android-ndk-toolchain-version,
     AS_HELP_STRING([--with-android-ndk-toolchain-version],
         [Specify which toolchain version to use, of those present in the
-        Android NDK you are using. Mandatory if the NDK used has several
-        toolchain versions for the host architecture you are building for.
-        Possible values are 4.6, 4.8, clang3.3 and clang3.4. Only 4.8 has been
-        tested for real...]), ,)
+        Android NDK you are using. The default is 4.9 currently.]), ,)
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(android-sdk,
     AS_HELP_STRING([--with-android-sdk],
@@ -331,6 +328,11 @@ if test -n "$with_android_ndk"; then
         android_platform_prefix=$android_cpu
     fi
 
+    if test -z "$with_android_ndk_toolchain_version"; then
+        # Default to gcc 4.9
+        with_android_ndk_toolchain_version=4.9
+    fi
+
     case "$with_android_ndk_toolchain_version" in
     4.6|4.7|4.8|4.9)
         ANDROID_BINUTILS_DIR=$ANDROID_NDK_HOME/toolchains/$android_platform_prefix-$with_android_ndk_toolchain_version