diff --git a/frysk-common/manpages.sh b/frysk-common/manpages.sh
index 63c1168..ac0c0b6 100755
--- a/frysk-common/manpages.sh
+++ b/frysk-common/manpages.sh
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@ EOF
 	cat <<EOF
 <li><tt><a href="${name}.${n}.html">${name}.${n}</a></tt>
 EOF
-	sed -n 's/<refpurpose>\(.*\)<\/refpurpose>/\1/ p' $xmlfile
+	# Catch empty (aka not on one line) refpurpose tags.
+	desc=$(sed -n 's/<refpurpose>\(.*\)<\/refpurpose>/\1/ p' $xmlfile)
+	if test -z "$desc"; then exit 1; fi
+	echo "$desc"
 	echo "</li>"
     fi
 done
diff --git a/frysk-core/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-exit.xml b/frysk-core/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-exit.xml
index c442d85..d420b15 100644
--- a/frysk-core/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-exit.xml
+++ b/frysk-core/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-exit.xml
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@
   </refmeta>
 
   <refnamediv>
-    <refname>funit-exit</refname> <refpurpose>exits with specified
-    status, or terminates with the specified signal</refpurpose>
+    <refname>funit-exit</refname>
+    <refpurpose>exits with specified status, or terminates with the specified signal</refpurpose>
   </refnamediv>
   
   <refsynopsisdiv>
diff --git a/frysk-sys/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-procmask.xml b/frysk-sys/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-procmask.xml
index 933b147..add4d7b 100644
--- a/frysk-sys/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-procmask.xml
+++ b/frysk-sys/frysk/pkglibdir/funit-procmask.xml
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@
 
   <refnamediv>
     <refname>funit-procmask</refname>
-    <refpurpose>Test the processes signal mask for the presence (or
-    absence) of a list if signals</refpurpose>
+    <refpurpose>Test the processes signal mask for the presence (or absence) of a list if signals</refpurpose>
   </refnamediv>
   
   <refsynopsisdiv>
diff --git a/frysk-top/Makefile.am b/frysk-top/Makefile.am
index 6c45b4b..9f6a8c8 100644
--- a/frysk-top/Makefile.am
+++ b/frysk-top/Makefile.am
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ manpages manpages/index.html:
 		-"GNOME Interface" \
 		$(srcdir)/frysk-gui/frysk/bindir/*.xml \
 		-"Test framework" \
-		$(srcdir)/*/frysk/pkglibdir/*.xml
+		$(srcdir)/*/frysk/pkglibdir/*.xml \
+	    || (echo "Bad [not on one line] refpurpose tag found."; exit 1)
 	mv manpages/index.new manpages/index.html
 
 # Generate JAVADOC documentation.