2 files changed, 11 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/README b/README
index 4cfba4070..232a3c61f 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ These are the direct dependencies for running GNUnet:
 - postgres           >= 9.5         (alternative to sqlite)
 - Texinfo            >= 5.2         [*1]
 - makeinfo           >= 4.8
+- make[*3]
 - which                             (bootstrap script and some Makefiles)
 - gettext
 - zlib
-- pkg-config
 
 
 These are the dependencies for GNUnet's testsuite:
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ Recommended autotools for compiling the Git version are:
      Contrary to the name, texi2mdoc does not require texinfo,
      It is a standalone ISO C utility.
 
+[*3] GNU make introduced the != operator in version 4.0.
+     GNU make was released in october 2013, reasonable to
+     be widespread by now. If this is not working out for
+     you, open a bug so that we can get a more portable
+     fix in.
+
 Requirements
 ============
 
diff --git a/src/util/Makefile.am b/src/util/Makefile.am
index 755f91a11..d1aa8aa9b 100644
--- a/src/util/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/util/Makefile.am
@@ -239,8 +239,11 @@ endif
 # This is horrible, but compared to the alternatives and the solution
 # which preceded this it is a good compromise and good enough for one
 # file. Everyone else is invited to patch it locally.
+# In case someone reads this file and is wondering about the
+# assignment operator below, it's explained here:
+# https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/make-w32/2013-10/msg00021.html
 
-xENV=$(shell which env)
+xENV != which env
 
 do_subst = $(SED) -e 's,[@]ENV[@],${xENV},g'