diff --git a/README b/README
index d6114a852c..9e77d6c1f3 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -23,6 +23,36 @@ for testing purposes).
 Start with source that is cloned directly from Savannah.  See [[https://savannah.gnu.org/git/?group=emacs][the Savannah page]]
 and look for "ELPA".  Using a clone of a clone does not work.
 
+You must then do some setup:
+#+begin_src shell
+   make setup
+#+end_src
+
+That leaves the =packages= directory empty; you must check out the
+ones you want.
+
+If you wish to check out all the packages into the =packages=
+directory, you can run the command:
+
+#+begin_src shell
+   make worktrees
+#+end_src
+
+You can check out a specific package =<pkgname>= into the =packages=
+directory with this command:
+
+#+begin_src
+   make packages/<pkgname>
+#+end_src
+
+If you already have a =packages/<pkgname>= directory with a previous
+checkout, you can update it like this:
+
+#+begin_src
+   cd packages/PACKAGE
+   git pull
+#+end_src
+
 * Directory layout
 
 ** =admin/=    -- scripts for administering the package archive.
@@ -221,28 +251,6 @@ and push that change to the master branch of =elpa=.  After it's added to
 the =elpa-packages= file, the package can be maintained just by
 pushing changes to the =externals/<pkgname>= branch.
 
-If you wish to check out all the packages into the =packages=
-directory, you can run the command:
-
-#+begin_src shell
-   make worktrees
-#+end_src
-
-You can check out a specific package =<pkgname>= into the =packages=
-directory with these commands:
-
-#+begin_src
-   make packages/<pkgname>
-#+end_src
-
-If you already have a =packages/<pkgname>= directory with a previous
-checkout, you can update it like this:
-
-#+begin_src 
-   cd packages/PACKAGE
-   git pull
-#+end_src
-
 ** Public incubation
 
 If you want to develop a package publicly prior to its first release (to