diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/Makefile b/polymer/eduke32/Makefile
index a1fe5ec07..db1146974 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/Makefile
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/Makefile
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ $(ENGINE_OBJ) $(MACT_OBJ) $(AUDIOLIB_OBJ) $(ENET_OBJ) $(TESTGAME_OBJ) $(DUKE3D_O
 
 ## PHONIES
 
-clean: cleanduke3d
+veryclean: clean
 
 # Delete executables, object files created from sources in source/, and
 # miscellaneous generated files related to Lunatic on non-Linux.
@@ -764,9 +764,8 @@ cleansw:
 cleanutils:
 	-rm -f $(addsuffix $(EXESUFFIX),$(UTILS) $(GAMEUTILS)) $(addprefix $(ENGINE_OBJ)/,$(addsuffix .$o,$(UTILS))) $(addprefix $(DUKE3D_OBJ)/,$(addsuffix .$o,$(GAMEUTILS))) $(addsuffix $(EXESUFFIX),$(DXUTILS)) $(addprefix $(ENGINE_OBJ)/,$(addsuffix .$o,$(DXUTILS))) $(addsuffix $(EXESUFFIX),$(SDLUTILS)) $(addprefix $(ENGINE_OBJ)/,$(addsuffix .$o,$(SDLUTILS))) $(UTIL_OBJS_EXP)
 
-veryclean: clean cleanutils
+clean: cleanduke3d cleanutils
 ifeq ($(PRETTY_OUTPUT),1)
-	echo "Removed test game and utils objects."
 	echo "rm -f $(ENGINE_OBJ)/*.$o $(MACT_OBJ)/*.$o $(AUDIOLIB_OBJ)/*.$o $(ENET_OBJ)/*.$o $(DUKE3D_RSRC)/*banner* $(EBACKTRACEDLL)"
 endif
 	-rm -f $(ENGINE_OBJ)/*.$o $(MACT_OBJ)/*.$o $(AUDIOLIB_OBJ)/*.$o $(ENET_OBJ)/*.$o $(DUKE3D_RSRC)/*banner* $(EBACKTRACEDLL)
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/Makefile.common b/polymer/eduke32/Makefile.common
index 312e2e523..c9061aae1 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/Makefile.common
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/Makefile.common
@@ -1129,7 +1129,7 @@ ARCHIVE_FAILED = printf "\033[K\033[0;31mFailed creating library archive \033[1;
 RECIPE_RESULT_ARCHIVE = ; then $(ARCHIVE_OK); else $(ARCHIVE_FAILED); fi
 LINK_STATUS = printf "\033[K\033[0;0mLinking \033[1m$@\033[0;0m...\033[0m\r"
 LINK_OK = printf "\033[K\033[0;32mLinked \033[1;32m$@\033[0;32m \033[0m\n"
-LINK_FAILED = printf "\033[K\033[0;31mFailed linking \033[1;31m$@\033[0;31m!\033[0m\n"; exit 1
+LINK_FAILED = printf "\033[K\033[0;31mFailed linking \033[1;31m$@\033[0;31m!\nIf the build options, environment, or system packages have changed, run \'\033[1;31mmake clean\033[0;31m\' and try again.\033[0m\n"; exit 1
 RECIPE_RESULT_LINK = ; then $(LINK_OK); else $(LINK_FAILED); fi
 else
 RECIPE_IF =