diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 627aea4..1c56679 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -22,6 +22,23 @@
 #   License along with this library; if not, write to the Free
 #   Software Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
 
+ifeq ($(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES),)
+ GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES := $(shell gnustep-config --variable=GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES 2>/dev/null)
+  ifeq ($(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES),)
+    $(warning )
+    $(warning Unable to obtain GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES setting from gnustep-config!)
+    $(warning Perhaps gnustep-make is not properly installed,)
+    $(warning so gnustep-config is not in your PATH.)
+    $(warning )
+    $(warning Your PATH is currently $(PATH))
+    $(warning )
+  endif
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES),)
+  $(error You need to set GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES before compiling!)
+endif
+
 include $(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES)/common.make
 
 include ./Version