diff --git a/README b/README
index dd05f40b4..35a6f4950 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -117,15 +117,15 @@ To compile ejabberd you need:
 
 ### 1. Compile and install on *nix systems
 
-To compile ejabberd execute the commands:
+To compile ejabberd, execute the following commands.  The first one is only
+necessary if your source tree didn't come with a `configure` script.
 
+    ./autogen.sh
     ./configure
     make
 
-If you don't have the `configure` script, run `autogen.sh` first.
-
-To install ejabberd, execute the following command with system administrator
-rights (root user):
+To install ejabberd, run this command with system administrator rights (root
+user):
 
     sudo make install