diff --git a/test/README b/test/README
index 3cd01627d09..d897e9e2c8b 100644
--- a/test/README
+++ b/test/README
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ following tags are recognized:
 * :unstable
   The test is under development.  It shall run on demand only.
 
+The following examples expect this directory as the current working
+directory.  If you call make from Emacs' root directory, use "make -C
+test" instead.
+
 The Makefile sets the environment variable $EMACS_TEST_DIRECTORY,
 which points to this directory.  This environment variable does not
 exist when the tests are run outside make.  The Makefile supports the