--- contrib/rcs2log.sh
+++ contrib/rcs2log.sh
@@ -249,7 +249,11 @@
 	# If CVS is in use, examine its repository, not the normal RCS files.
 	if test ! -f CVS/Repository
 	then
-		rlog=rlog
+		if test ! -x /usr/bin/rlog; then
+			echo >&2 "$0: rlog not found, please install package rcs."
+			exit 1
+		fi
+		rlog=/usr/bin/rlog
 		repository=
 	else
 		rlog='cvs -q log'