diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5f827d57..d153284b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 PKG=shadow
 SITE=ftp://pkg-shadow.alioth.debian.org/pub/pkg-shadow/
 
+deb:: check_cheese
+
 include /usr/share/quilt/quilt.debbuild.mk
+
+check_cheese:
+	@dpkg-parsechangelog | grep -q "\* The \".*\" release\." || { \
+		echo ""; \
+		echo " **                                  **"; \
+		echo " **  Warning: not a cheesy release!  **"; \
+		echo " **                                  **"; \
+		echo ""; \
+		exit 1; \
+	}