diff --git a/package.py b/package.py
index be949bce..aa876b36 100644
--- a/package.py
+++ b/package.py
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ def copy_files_to_package(destpath, packages, with_so):
     shutil.copy("run.py", op.join(destpath, "run.py"))
     extra_ignores = ["*.so"] if not with_so else None
     copy_packages(packages, destpath, extra_ignores=extra_ignores)
+    # include locale files if they are built otherwise exit as it will break
+    # the localization
+    if not op.exists("build/locale"):
+        print("Locale files are missing. Have you run \"build.py --loc\"? Exiting...")
+        return
+    # include help files if they are built otherwise exit as they should be included?
+    if not op.exists("build/help"):
+        print("Help files are missing. Have you run \"build.py --doc\"? Exiting...")
+        return
     shutil.copytree(op.join("build", "help"), op.join(destpath, "help"))
     shutil.copytree(op.join("build", "locale"), op.join(destpath, "locale"))
     compileall.compile_dir(destpath)
@@ -152,11 +161,11 @@ def package_windows():
     # include locale files if they are built otherwise exit as it will break
     # the localization
     if not op.exists("build/locale"):
-        print("Locale files not built, exiting...")
+        print("Locale files are missing. Have you run \"build.py --loc\"? Exiting...")
         return
     # include help files if they are built otherwise exit as they should be included?
     if not op.exists("build/help"):
-        print("Help files not built, exiting...")
+        print("Help files are missing. Have you run \"build.py --doc\"? Exiting...")
         return
     # create version information file from template
     try: