diff --git a/Makefile.maint b/Makefile.maint
index b29b55678..eded97f47 100644
--- a/Makefile.maint
+++ b/Makefile.maint
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ null_AM_MAKEFLAGS = \
   MAKEINFO=false
 
 t=./=test
-my-distcheck:
+my-distcheck: po-check
 	-rm -rf $(t)
 	mkdir $(t)
 	GZIP=$(GZIP) $(AMTAR) -C $(t) -zxf $(distdir).tar.gz