diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 17e8af6cf1e..855668255b1 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -17524,6 +17524,9 @@ then
 	\$(CC) -Iinclude -I$srcdir/include \$(ALLCFLAGS) -o \$@ $srcdir/tools/makedep.c \$(LDFLAGS)
 clean:: __clean__
 	\$(RM) tools/makedep$ac_exeext"
+else
+    wine_fn_append_rule "\$(MAKEDEP):
+	@echo \"You need to run make in $TOOLSDIR first\" && false"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$with_wine64"
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 98a73f2521d..faadbef23c1 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3525,6 +3525,10 @@ then
 	\$(CC) -Iinclude -I$srcdir/include \$(ALLCFLAGS) -o \$@ $srcdir/tools/makedep.c \$(LDFLAGS)
 clean:: __clean__
 	\$(RM) tools/makedep$ac_exeext])
+else
+    WINE_APPEND_RULE(
+[\$(MAKEDEP):
+	@echo \"You need to run make in $TOOLSDIR first\" && false])
 fi
 
 if test -n "$with_wine64"