diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 0400892..3c688bb 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ The following are the changes from calc version 2.14.2.3 to date:
     The pseudo_seed() function will also try to call statfs() if
     possible and permitted by the HAVE_STATFS value.
 
+    Test if makedepend command is available before trying to build
+    the Makefile dependency list via "make depend".
+
 
 The following are the changes from calc version 2.14.2.0 to 2.14.1.2:
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b5ac9e2..2191696 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -4675,6 +4675,12 @@ depend: hsrc custom/Makefile
 	else \
 	    ${TRUE}; \
 	fi
+	${Q} if type -f ${MAKEDEPEND}; then \
+	    ${TRUE}; \
+	else \
+	    echo "make depend failed: cannot find makedepend command: ${MAKEDEPEND}" 1>&2; \
+	    exit 1; \
+	fi
 	${V} echo '=-=-=-=-= Invoking depend rule for cscript =-=-=-=-='
 	${Q} cd cscript; ${MAKE} -f Makefile ${CSCRIPT_PASSDOWN} depend
 	${V} echo '=-=-=-=-= Back to the main Makefile for $@ rule =-=-=-=-='
diff --git a/Makefile.simple b/Makefile.simple
index a0e297c..be1d949 100644
--- a/Makefile.simple
+++ b/Makefile.simple
@@ -3985,6 +3985,12 @@ depend: hsrc custom/Makefile
 	else \
 	    ${TRUE}; \
 	fi
+	${Q} if type -f ${MAKEDEPEND}; then \
+	    ${TRUE}; \
+	else \
+	    echo "make depend failed: cannot find makedepend command: ${MAKEDEPEND}" 1>&2; \
+	    exit 1; \
+	fi
 	${V} echo '=-=-=-=-= Invoking depend rule for cscript =-=-=-=-='
 	${Q} cd cscript; ${MAKE} -f Makefile ${CSCRIPT_PASSDOWN} depend
 	${V} echo '=-=-=-=-= Back to the main Makefile for $@ rule =-=-=-=-='
diff --git a/custom/Makefile b/custom/Makefile
index 3e81608..ccedab2 100644
--- a/custom/Makefile
+++ b/custom/Makefile
@@ -802,11 +802,17 @@ Makefile.simple: Makefile ../Makefile
 
 depend:
 	${Q} if [ -f ${MAKE_FILE}.bak ]; then \
-	    echo "custom/${MAKE_FILE}.bak exists, remove or move it"; \
+	    echo "custom/${MAKE_FILE}.bak exists, remove or move it" 1>&2; \
 	    exit 1; \
 	else \
 	    ${TRUE}; \
 	fi
+	${Q} if type -f ${MAKEDEPEND}; then \
+	    ${TRUE}; \
+	else \
+	    echo "make depend failed: cannot find makedepend command: ${MAKEDEPEND}" 1>&2; \
+	    exit 1; \
+	fi
 	${Q} echo forming custom/skel
 	${Q} ${RM} -rf skel
 	${Q} ${MKDIR} -p skel
@@ -827,7 +833,7 @@ depend:
 	    echo '#endif /* '"$$tag"' */' >> "skel/custom/$$i"; \
 	done
 	${Q} (cd ..; ${MAKE} -f ${MAKE_FILE} hsrc)
-	${MAKE} -f ../${MAKE_FILE} h_list 2>/dev/null | \
+	(cd ..; ${MAKE} -f ${MAKE_FILE} h_list 2>/dev/null) | \
 	    while read i; do \
 		if [ ! -f "../$$i" ]; then continue; fi; \
 		tag="`echo $$i | ${SED} 's/[\.+,:]/_/g'`"; \
@@ -841,7 +847,7 @@ depend:
 	${Q} echo custom/skel formed
 	${Q} echo forming custom dependency list
 	${Q} :> skel/custom/makedep.out
-	${Q} cd skel/custom; ${MAKEDEPEND} \
+	-${Q} cd skel/custom; ${MAKEDEPEND} \
 	    -I../../.. -w 1 -f makedep.out -- \
 	    ${CFLAGS} -- \
 	    ${C_SRC} 2>/dev/null
diff --git a/custom/Makefile.simple b/custom/Makefile.simple
index 65d5069..75f1c96 100644
--- a/custom/Makefile.simple
+++ b/custom/Makefile.simple
@@ -806,11 +806,17 @@ calcliblist: ${CALCLIBLIST}
 
 depend:
 	${Q} if [ -f ${MAKE_FILE}.bak ]; then \
-	    echo "custom/${MAKE_FILE}.bak exists, remove or move it"; \
+	    echo "custom/${MAKE_FILE}.bak exists, remove or move it" 1>&2; \
 	    exit 1; \
 	else \
 	    ${TRUE}; \
 	fi
+	${Q} if type -f ${MAKEDEPEND}; then \
+	    ${TRUE}; \
+	else \
+	    echo "make depend failed: cannot find makedepend command: ${MAKEDEPEND}" 1>&2; \
+	    exit 1; \
+	fi
 	${Q} echo forming custom/skel
 	${Q} ${RM} -rf skel
 	${Q} ${MKDIR} -p skel
@@ -831,7 +837,7 @@ depend:
 	    echo '#endif /* '"$$tag"' */' >> "skel/custom/$$i"; \
 	done
 	${Q} (cd ..; ${MAKE} -f ${MAKE_FILE} hsrc)
-	${MAKE} -f ../${MAKE_FILE} h_list 2>/dev/null | \
+	(cd ..; ${MAKE} -f ${MAKE_FILE} h_list 2>/dev/null) | \
 	    while read i; do \
 		if [ ! -f "../$$i" ]; then continue; fi; \
 		tag="`echo $$i | ${SED} 's/[\.+,:]/_/g'`"; \
@@ -845,7 +851,7 @@ depend:
 	${Q} echo custom/skel formed
 	${Q} echo forming custom dependency list
 	${Q} :> skel/custom/makedep.out
-	${Q} cd skel/custom; ${MAKEDEPEND} \
+	-${Q} cd skel/custom; ${MAKEDEPEND} \
 	    -I../../.. -w 1 -f makedep.out -- \
 	    ${CFLAGS} -- \
 	    ${C_SRC} 2>/dev/null