$ automake --version automake (GNU automake) 1.16.1 For c-files generated by LEX and YACC in the build process the script ylwrap takes care, among other things, that the relative file paths in #line directives are correct. The generated files are part of distribution tarballs, where they sit next to their corresponding source YACC or LEX file; it appears that their #line directives are the same as in the build process. This causes an issue when 'make distcheck' is run in a (strict) VPATH build: In the distribution tarball the relative #line directives pointing to the source YACC or LEX file are incorrect. So my question is under the premise of a VPATH build: Is there a remedy for the incorrect paths in these #line directives (OTHER THAN running configure and make in the top src dir)? Or this is rather a bug in automake to be fixed? The documentation appears to be silent about that (or am I missing something here?) The attached minimal sample package demonstrates the issue. Sources sit in the src subdir. The package was created by 'make distcheck' for a VPATH build, i.e.: mkdir bld && cd bld && ../configure && make && make distcheck Please check the #line directives in parse.c and scan.c. (I did not have automake generate corresponding header files.) Separately, when distcleancheck fails for an elaborate package I find the part of the error message a bit misleading (sample below). It could be interpreted in the way that './share/info/dir' should be uninstalled, too, which supposedly it should NOT be, since the check passes regardless of the dir file. So, it would be great if the dir file could be dropped in the currently prompted error message. (Of course, it is technically correct to say that the dir file is left after uninstall.) ERROR: files left after uninstall: ./path/to/file/forgotten/to/uninstall ./share/info/dir Many thanks for your insights, J. PS: Please cc me in replies. Thanks!