diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 1117dd4..d2376ff 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,4 +1,19 @@
-The following are the changes from calc version 2.12.8.0 to date:
+The following are the changes from calc version 2.12.8.1 to date:
+
+    Fixed how the *.tar.bz2 are formed.  The calc-2.12.8.0.tar.bz2 file
+    that was formed for calc version 2.12.8.0 was missing most files.
+
+    Expanded 'make chk' to also verify that 'make distchk' and 'make
+    distlist' execute successfully.  This will help check a regression
+    of the bug that produced the bogus calc-2.12.8.0.tar.bz2 file.
+
+    Added additional regression tests related 0^(zero_expression)==1.
+
+    Calc can now correctly compile without CUSTOM being defined,
+    thanks to a report by <GitHub user barsnick>.
+
+
+The following are the changes from calc version 2.12.7.5 to 2.12.8.0:
 
     Fixed a mistake in "help intro" where some inserted text changed
     the value of "." and thus made the next result incorrect.
@@ -54,15 +69,6 @@ The following are the changes from calc version 2.12.8.0 to date:
 
 	    http://www.isthe.com/chongo/tech/comp/calc/calc-question.html
 
-    Fixed how the *.tar.bz2 are formed.  The calc-2.12.8.0.tar.bz2 file
-    that was formed for calc version 2.12.8.0 was missing most files.
-
-    Expanded 'make chk' to also verify that 'make distchk' and 'make
-    distlist' execute successfully.  This will help check a regression
-    of the bug that produced the bogus calc-2.12.8.0.tar.bz2 file.
-
-    Added additional regression tests related 0^(zero_expression)==1.
-
 
 The following are the changes from calc version 2.12.7.1 to 2.12.7.5:
 
diff --git a/lib_calc.c b/lib_calc.c
index 2092511..ec50d0f 100644
--- a/lib_calc.c
+++ b/lib_calc.c
@@ -565,6 +565,7 @@ initenv(void)
 		calc_helpdir = HELPDIR;
 	}
 
+#if defined(CUSTOM)
 	/* determine the $CALCCUSTOMHELP value */
 	c = (no_env ? NULL : getenv(CALCCUSTOMHELP));
 	calc_customhelpdir = (c ? strdup(c) : NULL);
@@ -572,6 +573,7 @@ initenv(void)
 		/* will use /usr/local/share/calc/custhelp */
 		calc_customhelpdir = CUSTOMHELPDIR;
 	}
+#endif /* CUSTOM */
 }