diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 96b9f0f9..f0286239 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ if type lynx >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
 elif type elinks >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
   elinks -dump docs/faq.html|perl -pe 's/^ *//; if ($_ eq "\n" && $state eq "Q") { $_ = ""; } elsif (/^([QA]):/) { $state = $1 } elsif ($_ ne "\n") { $_ = "   $_"; };' > docs/faq.txt
 else
-  echo No lynx or links present
+  echo "**Error**: No lynx or links present"
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 if test x$NOCONFIGURE = x && test -z "$*"; then