diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 2ca36bb3a02ad6be50be08472aec27d9c1f568d5..a65c581ac4fb6aa063bc929a74bc0d25f068f9b0 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2007-11-17  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
+
+	* Makefile.in (check-declare): New target.
+
 2007-11-07  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
 	* configure.in: Deprecate Mac Carbon port.
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index f0f710b47116bac8644ec0f2327802733435b3f1..d77de33c9f8006cd2d5229617b81b497fc22aacc 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -811,3 +811,13 @@ bootstrap-clean-before-fast: FRC
 	-(cd doc/lispref &&   $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) clean)
 	-(cd doc/lispintro &&   $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) clean)
 	(cd leim;     $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) clean)
+
+.PHONY: check-declare
+
+check-declare:
+	@if [ ! -e $(srcdir)/src/emacs ]; then \
+	  echo "You must build Emacs to use this command"; \
+	  exit 1; \
+	fi
+	(cd leim; $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) $@)
+	(cd lisp; $(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) $@)