diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
index 3a3163917..f563afe0b 100644
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
+++ b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
@@ -34,9 +34,18 @@ release-tag:
 	  fi \
 	fi
 
-release-check: release-verify-even-micro release-verify-sane-changelogs
+release-check: release-verify-even-micro release-verify-sane-changelogs release-verify-news
 	TAR_OPTIONS="$(TAR_OPTIONS)" $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) distcheck
 
+release-verify-news:
+	@echo -n "Checking that the NEWS file has been updated..."
+	@if ! grep -q "$(CLUTTER_VERSION)" $(top_srcdir)/NEWS; then \
+	  (echo "Ouch." && \
+	   echo "The version in the NEWS file does not match $(CLUTTER_VERSION)." && \
+	   echo "This probably means you haven't updated the NEWS file." && \
+	   false); else :; fi
+	@echo "Good."
+
 release-verify-sane-changelogs: changelogs
 	@echo -n "Checking that the ChangeLog files are sane..."
 	@if grep -q "is required to generate" $(CHANGELOGS); then \
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6427db88d..e3aa6ef8f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build])
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([build/autotools])
 
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign -Wno-portability no-define no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2 check-news])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign -Wno-portability no-define no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2])
 
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])