diff --git a/m4/gtest.m4 b/m4/gtest.m4
index ebb488a8..6598ba75 100644
--- a/m4/gtest.m4
+++ b/m4/gtest.m4
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ AC_DEFUN([GTEST_LIB_CHECK],
 dnl Provide a flag to enable or disable Google Test usage.
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([gtest],
   [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-gtest],
-                  [Enable tests using the Google C++ Testing Framework.]
-                  [(Default is enabled.)])],
+                  [Enable tests using the Google C++ Testing Framework.
+                  (Default is enabled.)])],
   [],
-  [enable_gtest=check])
+  [enable_gtest=])
 AC_ARG_VAR([GTEST_CONFIG],
            [The exact path of Google Test's 'gtest-config' script.])
 AC_ARG_VAR([GTEST_CPPFLAGS],
@@ -29,33 +29,46 @@ AC_ARG_VAR([GTEST_LIBS],
 AC_ARG_VAR([GTEST_VERSION],
            [The version of Google Test available.])
 HAVE_GTEST="no"
-AS_IF([test "x$enable_gtest" != "xno"],
-  [AC_PATH_PROG([GTEST_CONFIG], [gtest-config])
-   AS_IF([test -x "$GTEST_CONFIG"],
-     [AS_IF([test "x$1" != "x"],
-        [_min_version="--min-version=$1"
+AS_IF([test "x${enable_gtest}" != "xno"],
+  [AC_MSG_CHECKING([for 'gtest-config'])
+   AS_IF([test "x${enable_gtest}" != "xyes"],
+     [AS_IF([test -x "${enable_gtest}/scripts/gtest-config"],
+        [GTEST_CONFIG="${enable_gtest}/scripts/gtest-config"],
+        [GTEST_CONFIG="${enable_gtest}/bin/gtest-config"])
+      AS_IF([test -x "${GTEST_CONFIG}"], [],
+        [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+         AC_MSG_ERROR([dnl
+Unable to locate either a built or installed Google Test.
+The specific location '${enable_gtest}' was provided for a built or installed
+Google Test, but no 'gtest-config' script could be found at this location.])
+         ])],
+     [AC_PATH_PROG([GTEST_CONFIG], [gtest-config])])
+   AS_IF([test -x "${GTEST_CONFIG}"],
+     [AC_MSG_RESULT([${GTEST_CONFIG}])
+      m4_ifval([$1],
+        [_gtest_min_version="--min-version=$1"
          AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Google Test at least version >= $1])],
-        [_min_version="--min-version=0"
+        [_gtest_min_version="--min-version=0"
          AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Google Test])])
-      AS_IF([$GTEST_CONFIG $_min_version],
+      AS_IF([${GTEST_CONFIG} ${_gtest_min_version}],
         [AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-         HAVE_GTEST="yes"],
-        [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])])])
-   AS_IF([test "x$HAVE_GTEST" = "xyes"],
-     [GTEST_CPPFLAGS=$($GTEST_CONFIG --cppflags)
-      GTEST_CXXFLAGS=$($GTEST_CONFIG --cxxflags)
-      GTEST_LDFLAGS=$($GTEST_CONFIG --ldflags)
-      GTEST_LIBS=$($GTEST_CONFIG --libs)
-      GTEST_VERSION=$($GTEST_CONFIG --version)
+         HAVE_GTEST='yes'],
+        [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])])],
+     [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])])
+   AS_IF([test "x${HAVE_GTEST}" = "xyes"],
+     [GTEST_CPPFLAGS=`${GTEST_CONFIG} --cppflags`
+      GTEST_CXXFLAGS=`${GTEST_CONFIG} --cxxflags`
+      GTEST_LDFLAGS=`${GTEST_CONFIG} --ldflags`
+      GTEST_LIBS=`${GTEST_CONFIG} --libs`
+      GTEST_VERSION=`${GTEST_CONFIG} --version`
       AC_DEFINE([HAVE_GTEST],[1],[Defined when Google Test is available.])],
-     [AS_IF([test "x$enable_gtest" = "xyes"],
-        [AC_MSG_ERROR([
-  The Google C++ Testing Framework was explicitly enabled, but a viable version
-  could not be found on the system.
-])])])])
+     [AS_IF([test "x${enable_gtest}" = "xyes"],
+        [AC_MSG_ERROR([dnl
+Google Test was enabled, but no viable version could be found.])
+         ])])])
 AC_SUBST([HAVE_GTEST])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_GTEST],[test "x$HAVE_GTEST" = "xyes"])
 AS_IF([test "x$HAVE_GTEST" = "xyes"],
-  [AS_IF([test "x$2" != "x"],[$2],[:])],
-  [AS_IF([test "x$3" != "x"],[$3],[:])])
+  [m4_ifval([$2], [$2])],
+  [m4_ifval([$3], [$3])])
 ])