diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cb112c72b619dec628d167f17f75630a99bb34fd..18ea7cd71615aba3896ce9707af428458ae12843 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 PREFIX=/usr
+RONN ?= ronn
 
 self=vcsh
 manpages=$(self).1
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ install: all
 manpages: $(manpages)
 
 $(self).1: doc/$(self).1.ronn
-	ronn < doc/$(self).1.ronn > $(self).1
+	$(RONN) < doc/$(self).1.ronn > $(self).1 || rm $(self).1
 
 clean:
 	rm -rf $(self).1