diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3923a7e65..1ab835baa 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -105,11 +105,14 @@ endif
 .PHONY: check-deps test test-figleaf figleaf-output
 
 
+signal-error:
+	@echo "ERROR: Not all of Tahoe's dependencies are in place.  Please \
+see the README for help on installing dependencies."
+	exit 1
+
 check-deps:
 	$(PP) \
-	 $(PYTHON) -c 'import allmydata, zfec, foolscap, simplejson, nevow, OpenSSL' || \
-	echo "Not all of Tahoe's dependencies are in place.  Please see the README for help on installing dependencies." && \
-	exit 1
+	 $(PYTHON) -c 'import allmydata, zfec, foolscap, simplejson, nevow, OpenSSL' || $(MAKE) signal-error
 
 .checked-deps:
 	$(MAKE) check-deps