diff --git a/src/tools/thread/README b/src/tools/thread/README
index ac8133c1088..6d285302179 100644
--- a/src/tools/thread/README
+++ b/src/tools/thread/README
@@ -10,4 +10,5 @@ To use this program, you must:
 	o add any THREAD_CPPFLAGS and THREAD_LIBS defines to your
 	  template/${port} file
 	o run "configure --enable-thread-safety"
+	o compile the main source tree
 	o compile and run this program