diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 32ebc785a2..d3d302b301 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ else
 endif
 
 config.gypi: configure
-	$(PYTHON) ./configure
+	if [ -f $@ ]; then
+		$(error Stale $@, please re-run ./configure)
+	else
+		$(error No $@, please run ./configure first)
+	fi
 
 install: all
 	$(PYTHON) tools/install.py $@ '$(DESTDIR)' '$(PREFIX)'