2 files changed, 7 insertions, 3 deletions

diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 86a685d988c..9486bbdca3f 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 2011-05-24  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
+        * Makefile.in (check): Just give a message if no test/ directory.
+
         * configure.in: Avoid using variables inside AC_CONFIG_FILES.
 
         * configure.in (OPT_MAKEFILES_IN): Remove.
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 0c3eabcf3b3..529a3b254c2 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -859,9 +859,11 @@ TAGS tags: lib lib-src src
 
 check:
         @if test ! -d test/automated; then \
-          echo "You do not seem to have the test/ directory."; exit 1; \
-        else true; fi
-        cd test/automated && $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) check
+          echo "You do not seem to have the test/ directory."; \
+          echo "Maybe you are using a release tarfile, rather than a repository checkout."; \
+        else \
+          cd test/automated && $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) check; \
+        fi
 
 dist:
         cd ${srcdir}; ./make-dist