diff --git a/doc/README.svn b/doc/README.svn
index 18ff73925..7f188987b 100644
--- a/doc/README.svn
+++ b/doc/README.svn
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ README.svn
 For a svn checkout
 * configure script, aclocal.m4, as well as yacc/lex output files are
   committed to the repository.
+* use --enable-debug flag for configure to enable dependency tracking and
+  assertions, otherwise, use make clean; make after svn update.
 
 * Note changes in the Changelog.
 * Every check-in a postcommit hook is run