diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4631090..541096d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ untag:
 .FORCE:
 
 gitmeta.tex: .FORCE
+	@git log --oneline -0  # check git is present
 	@/bin/echo -n '\vcsrevision{' > $@
 	@/bin/echo -n "$(shell git log -1 --date=short --pretty=%h 2> /dev/null)" >> $@
 	@if [ ! -z "$(shell git status --porcelain -uno 2> /dev/null)" ]; then /bin/echo -n -dirty >> $@; fi