diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a447d06e1cd55d..4d84d30224f804 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -75,11 +75,7 @@ out/Makefile: common.gypi deps/uv/uv.gyp deps/http_parser/http_parser.gyp deps/z
 	$(PYTHON) tools/gyp_node.py -f make
 
 config.gypi: configure
-	if [ -f $@ ]; then
-		$(error Stale $@, please re-run ./configure)
-	else
-		$(error No $@, please run ./configure first)
-	fi
+	$(error Missing or stale $@, please run ./$<)
 
 install: all
 	$(PYTHON) tools/install.py $@ '$(DESTDIR)' '$(PREFIX)'