diff --git a/src/Makefile.in b/src/Makefile.in
index bf5ff925..e50b3292 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/Makefile.in
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ QTGUI = @QTGUI@
 
 RCLLIBVERSION=@RCLLIBVERSION@
 
-all: mk/sysconf 
+all: configure mk/sysconf 
 	(cd lib; sh mkMake)
 	${MAKE} -C lib
 	${MAKE} -C index depend recollindex
@@ -84,4 +84,8 @@ install: all
           libdir=${libdir} mandir=${mandir} \
 	  /bin/sh ./recollinstall ${prefix}
 
+configure: VERSION configure.ac
+	autoconf
+	@echo run configure and make again
+	exit 1
 .PHONY: all static clean distclean install