2 files changed, 5 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/ChangeLog.txt b/ChangeLog.txt
index 6466806..411229f 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.txt
+++ b/ChangeLog.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2016-11-04:
+	* (seebs) clarify usage message on missing --prefix
+
 2016-10-31:
 	* (seebs) drop silly if
 
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 170d264..22a0692 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ compile_x86_64=-m64
 
 usage()
 {
+    [ -n "$*" ] && echo >&2 "$*"
     echo >&2 "usage:"
     echo >&2 "  configure --prefix=..."
     echo >&2 "           [--libdir=...]"
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ if $use_maybe_rpath && [ -n "$maybe_rpath" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ -z "$opt_prefix" ]; then
-    usage
+    usage "Error: You must specify a prefix path for installation (--prefix=)."
 fi
 
 if [ -z "$opt_libdir" ]; then