diff --git a/make/rpmdist.mk b/make/rpmdist.mk
index c7a81a7a..5d9e09e0 100644
--- a/make/rpmdist.mk
+++ b/make/rpmdist.mk
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ update-repo.dist: upload.dist
 
 define check_cvs_sync
 	echo + checking cvs ;\
-	cvs status > cvs_status.tmp 2>&1;\
+	cvs update -dP ;\
+	cvs status > cvs_status.tmp 2>&1 ;\
 	if [ $$? != 0 ]; then \
 		cat cvs_status.tmp ;\
 		echo -e "\n======== cvs status failed, giving up." >&2 ;\