diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index fb80e60c2c..dc174dd43c 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ GTKHTML_LIBS=`$GNOME_CONFIG --libs gtkhtml`
 GTKHTML_CFLAGS=`$GNOME_CONFIG --cflags gtkhtml`
 
 AC_CHECK_LIB(gal, main, true,
-  [AC_MSG_ERROR([gal library not found])],
+  [AC_MSG_ERROR([gal library not found.  See the README for more info.])],
   `$GNOME_CONFIG --libs gal`)
 
 # check for gtkhtml and enable it via HAVE_LIBGTKHTML