diff --git a/configure b/configure
index cf6db3d551..dccb5d4f96 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -31,8 +31,12 @@ then
         fi
     fi
 
-    mkdir build
-    touch $MARKER
+    if ! mkdir build || ! touch $MARKER
+    then
+        echo "ERROR: Could not create ./build directory. Check the permissions on"
+        echo "your source directory, or try doing an out-of-tree build."
+        exit 1
+    fi
 
     cat > GNUmakefile <<'EOF'
 # This file is auto-generated by configure to support in-source tree