diff --git a/runtime/doc/Makefile b/runtime/doc/Makefile
index e10415f..514a012 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/Makefile
+++ b/runtime/doc/Makefile
@@ -323,10 +323,7 @@
 # Use Vim to generate the tags file.  Can only be used when Vim has been
 # compiled and installed.  Supports multiple languages.
 vimtags: $(DOCS)
-	@if command -v $(VIMEXE); then \
-	    $(VIMEXE) --clean -eX -u doctags.vim >/dev/null && \
-	      echo "help tags updated"; \
-	  else echo "vim executable $(VIMEXE) not found; help tags not updated"; fi
+	@$(VIMEXE) --clean -esX -V1 -u doctags.vim
 
 # Use "doctags" to generate the tags file.  Only works for English!
 tags: doctags $(DOCS)
diff --git a/runtime/doc/doctags.vim b/runtime/doc/doctags.vim
index 7dfbcc0..833dbef 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/doctags.vim
+++ b/runtime/doc/doctags.vim
@@ -2,5 +2,12 @@
 "
 " Usage: vim -eX -u doctags.vim
 
-helptags ++t .
+try
+  helptags ++t .
+  echo 'help tags updated'
+catch
+  echo v:exception
+  echo 'help tags failed update'
+endtry
+echo ''
 qa!