diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index c86bf426..efaae8e2 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
 	git-version-gen
 
 dist-hook:
+	@if ! git diff --quiet; then echo "Uncommitted changes present; not releasing"; exit 1; fi
 	echo $(VERSION) > $(distdir)/.tarball-version