diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c7bd0ad..c34c943 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 # Makefile for mod_remoteip.c (gmake)
 APXS=$(shell which apxs || which apxs2) 
 
-default: mod_remoteip.o
+check:
+	ifeq ($(APXS),)
+		$(error apxs not found. Please install apxs)
+	endif
+
+default: mod_remoteip.o check
 
 mod_remoteip.o: mod_remoteip.c
 	$(APXS) -c -n mod_remoteip.so mod_remoteip.c