diff --git a/runtime/doc/Makefile b/runtime/doc/Makefile
index 443a27a..57aec4e 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/Makefile
+++ b/runtime/doc/Makefile
@@ -323,7 +323,8 @@
 # Use Vim to generate the tags file.  Can only be used when Vim has been
 # compiled and installed.  Supports multiple languages.
 vimtags: $(DOCS)
-	$(VIMEXE) -eX -u doctags.vim
+	@if test -x $(VIMEXE); then $(VIMEXE) -eX -u doctags.vim; \
+		else echo "vim executable $(VIMEXE) not found"; fi
 
 # Use "doctags" to generate the tags file.  Only works for English!
 tags: doctags $(DOCS)