1 files changed, 5 insertions, 3 deletions

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