diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f3a9995e50..6b492f44a6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1447,7 +1447,7 @@ ifdef NO_SYMLINK_HEAD
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_SYMLINK_HEAD
 endif
 ifdef GETTEXT_POISON
-$(error The GETTEXT_POISON option has been removed in favor of runtime GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON. See t/README!)
+$(warning The GETTEXT_POISON option has been removed in favor of runtime GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON. See t/README!)
 endif
 ifdef NO_GETTEXT
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_GETTEXT