1 files changed, 5 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index cd630ce..0118ecd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -11,11 +11,16 @@ pip usage is recommended
 """
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
+import sys
 import setuptools
+PROBLEMATIC_COMMANDS = 'install', 'develop', 'easy_install', 'bdist_egg'
 
 if not os.path.isdir('setuptools_scm.egg-info'):
     print(__doc__)
 
+    if any(c in sys.argv for c in PROBLEMATIC_COMMANDS):
+        sys.exit('please run `python setup.py egg_info` first')
+
 
 def scm_config():
     from setuptools_scm.version import (