diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3dbadc07d9..b81c00b41b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -833,6 +833,10 @@ menuselect: menuselect/cmenuselect menuselect/nmenuselect menuselect/gmenuselect
 		$(MAKE) cmenuselect; \
 	elif [ -x menuselect/gmenuselect ]; then \
 		$(MAKE) gmenuselect; \
+	else \
+		echo "No menuselect user interface found. Install ncurses," \
+		echo "newt or GTK libraries to build one and re-rerun" \
+		echo "'make menuselect'." \
 	fi
 
 cmenuselect: menuselect/cmenuselect menuselect-tree